Catalogue of European Court Swords and Hunting Swords

Web Site Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

Combination Arms (hunting sword with pistol) page 32

Sword Carriers and Belts pages 3 23 24 25 33

Court Sword Evolution page 2 Hunting Sword Evolution page 26

Court Sword Item Numbers: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130

Hunting Sword Item Numbers: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46

Plate Numbers: I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX XXI XXII XXIII XXIV XXV XXVI XXVII XXVIII XXIX XXX XXXI XXXII XXXIII XXXIV XXXV XXXVI XXXVII XXXVIII XXXIX XL XLI XLII XLIII XLIV XLV XLVI XLVII XLVIII XLIX L LI LII LIII LIV LV LVI LVII LVIII LIX LX LXI LXII LXIII LXIV LXV LXVI LXVII LXVIII LXIX LXX LXXI LXXII LXXIII LXXIV LXXV LXXVI LXXVII LXXVIII LXXIX LXXX LXXXI LXXXII LXXXIII LXXXIV LXXXV LXXXVI LXXXVII LXXXVIII LXXXIX XC XCI XCII XCIII XCIV XCV XCVI XCVII XCVIII XCIX C CI

104. COURT SWORD English, 1790
Hilt of polished steel, faceted, enriched with applied medallions of transparent and opaque enamels. Guard oval with inlay of porcelain hatched with gold lines and ornamented with flowers accompanied by red-orange tendrils and leaves in green transparent enamel; also borders with punched dots and with plaque of flat gold carved as a laurel wreath, this enclosed in faceted steel bosses. Side of guard toward blade plain steel. Grip of gilded porcelain, bearing enameled flowers and tendrils en suite against hatched background. Pommel flattened, bearing medallions en suite framed by engraved gold rim and ring of steel bosses; lozenge-shaped rosette in green enamel, and laurel wreath in yellow.

Blade three-edged; forte engraved on both sides with panels of strapwork against hatched background, each enclosing cartouche of floral scrolls; similar scrolls over panel.

26.145.341 L. 102 (85.5) Wt. 349

Plate LXXVII Reubell Benefaction

105. PRESENTATION SWORD English, 1780-1790
Hilt steel carved in scale pattern ajouré, with nail-head and leaf border motifs in relief; further decorated with medallions, sprays, and borders in relief, damascened in gold of three colors. Guard oval with finely scalloped edge; central portion with a damascened medallion on either side: left, British war vessel off castle; right, Neptune in chariot drawn by sea horses; border decorated with nail-heads, leaves and flowers damascened. Blade side of guard of plain polished steel ornamented only by the ajouré scales and by large stars, ajouré, with cut steel centers beneath the two medallions. Pas d'âne small, shaped and damascened as flowering twigs. Quillon in floral damascene, with terminal medallions showing trophies in nail-head borders. Knuckle guard with flower damascene inside; central portion, expanded and flattened, bears in damascene and scale pattern similar medallions. Grip rectangular of damascened steel en suite; four different strips en. torsade: (a) groove, polished steel, (b) string of fine cut steel beads in groove (note that many beads are larger as string turns corner of grip), (c) same as (a), (d) flat damascened strip consisting of festoon of leaves between parallel gold strips, (e) (f) (g) same as (a) (b) (c), (h) damascened strip Containing inscription: CAESARIA INSULA INCOLUMIS GRATO ANIMO DEDIT 1780. (The Island of Jersey, delivered, presents this in gratitude).

Blade three-edged; at base short panel gilded and etched with trophies against hatched (page 51) background; above this, entire length blued and gilded over etching of floral scrolls and trophies; also, left, L'HONNEUR ME FAIT SERVIR, and figure of man with turban and small sword, above which inscription HANNIBAL.

Scabbard of white shagreen over wood; double ring suspension; fittings of steel en suite; upper ferrule with inscription: BLAND ST. JAMES. S.

26.145.314 L. 105.5 (86) Wt. 513

Note: This sword was presented to Admiral Marriot Arbuthnot (1711-1794) in accordance with the following resolution of October 20, 1779 (given to Mr. Reubell through the kindness of M. Legros, former Sheriff of the Parliament of Jersey, and Mr. J. Balleine) : " Les Etats alant appris comment la nouvelle du danger qui menaça l'IsIe de Jersey le premier jour de Mai dernier fut portée a l'Amiral Arbuthnot et alant sçu le parti qu'il prit sur le champ et de son chef, se trouvant infiniment redevables des secours prompts et favorables qu'il leur destinoit, et pour se montrer sensibles a cette démarche hardie et généreuse, us ont unanimement résolu de lui presenter une épée de la valeur de cinquante guinées comme un sincere, mais faible témoignage de la plus vive Reconnaissance. Et ont requis Son Excellence le Général Candon, leur gouverneur, de vouloir bien se charger de transmettre copie authentique du present acte a M. Arbuthnot et de le prier d'accepter leur témoignage." ("The States, having learned how the news of danger which threatened the Island of Jersey on the first of May last was carried to Arbuthnot and having learned the part which he took in the battle, finding themselves inexpressibly grateful for the prompt succor which he sent them and wishing to show themselves appreciative of his bold and generous behaviour, unanimously resolved to present to him a sword of the value of fifty guineas as a sincere though modest proof of their gratitude. They have requested his Excellency General Candon, their Governor, to be so good as to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to M. Arbuthnot and to beg him to accept their token. ") The occasion for this presentation occurred as follows: On May I, 1779, Admiral Arbuthnot sailed from St. Helena for America where he was to take charge of the British naval forces operating against the rebelling colonists. Among his ships was H.M.S. Experience, Sir James Wallace in command. The Island of Jersey was threatened by a French fleet under the Prince of Nassau and M. Chambertram. Hearing that Nassau had been repulsed by the inhabitants of Jersey and that frigates had been sent from Portsmouth, Arbuthnot pursued his journey, leaving the Experience to strengthen the forces in the Island. Five frigates eventually arriving, Sir James Wallace concerted an attack on the French squadron which had gone over to the mainland. He silenced a six-gun battery under which the French were protected, burnt two of their frigates and a cutter, and captured and sent to England under prize crews three frigates and two smaller vessels. Sir James Wallace thereupon rejoined Arbuthnot who in due time was preseited with the sword in accordance with the resolution of gratitude given above. The sword itself should date about 1780; but from its urn-shaped pommel and ornamentation of cut steel beads and rivets it can hardly be earlier than 1790. Bibliography: Dictionary of National Biography, Articles on Arbuthnot and Wallace. Abraham Mourant, Chronique de ersey. Appendix (S. Yvret, pp. 14-28).

Plate LXXVIII Reubell Benefaction 105

(page 52)

This and the following ten numbers may be described as of the "English school of the early nineteenth century,'' or in the "Adams style.''

106. DRESS SWORD French, 1797-1809
Hilt of gilded silver chiseled in low relief in narrow roped lines which enclose faceted and burnished bossets, and nail-heads. Guard on surface toward blade without bossets, but ornamented with engraved roped lines parallel to border and tooled in festoons. Pas d'âne non-functional. Mark of maker present, but cannot be identified; from the garantie and standard marks the date is determined between 1797 and 1809.

Blade three-edged; forte blued, gilded over etched design of trophies and sun rays.

Scabbard of white shagreen over wood; double ring suspension; upper fittings gilded silver top ferrule tooled with circles and conventional flower; second ferrule tooled with scrolls. On both ferrules above-noted garantie mark. (Scabbard probably renewed at this later date, while sword was still in use). Chape plain blued metal showing traces of gilding.

26.145.310 L. 101 (85) Wt. 402

Plate LXXIX, Reubell Benefaction

107. DRESS SWORD English, 1810
Hilt silver chiseled in flat panels, colored rose-gold, separated by rows of small faceted bosses of cut steel, also by medallions of brilliant blue transparent enamel over hatched background, surrounded by rosettes of faceted silver. Guard ajouré; side toward blade plain silver. Rudimentary non-functional pas d'âne. Grip hexagonal en suite. Pommel urn-shaped; button missing.

Blade three-edged; forte blued and gilded over etching of floral scrolls; small gilded portion at base etched in diaper and rosettes.

26.145.312 L. 98.5 (81) Wt. 360

Plate LXXIX Reubell Benefaction

108. COURT SWORD French (Louis XVIII), 1814-1819
Hilt steel, similar to English specimens of the period but differing in numerous details, e. g., treatment of guard, its composition, with butterfly-shaped areas, in character of scalloped border, in its radiate patterns, in the make-up of its fusée. On side toward blade the guard shows no medallions, decoration consists merely of ajouré butterfly-like silhouettes. (page 53) Pas d'âne rudimentary, of plain steel. Knuckle guard and quillons are rows of faceted beads, one quillon a continuation of the knuckle guard, the other springing from the pas d'âne at ricasso. Grip formed of alternate vertical strips of (a) blued steel with gold line-inlay in grape-vine pattern, (b) plain twisted wire, (c) polished steel with transverse bands and studding of cut steel bosses in star pattern, (d) same as (b). Pommel ovoid.

Blade colechimarde, three-edged; forte blued and gilded over etched floral scrolls, arm holding dagger, fleur-de-lis; at base of blade short panel completely gilded and etched with diaper and crosses, inscribed: DIDA MARCHAND ET FOURBISSEUR, RUE ST. CATRINE A BORDEAUX.

26.145.311 L. 99 (82) Wt. 452

Plate LXXX Reubell Benefaction

109. "MOURNING" SWORD English, 1805
Hilt cut steel nearly identical with No. 110, except that it is slightly smaller, pommel urn- shaped, and entire hilt richly blued.

26.145.307 L. 96 (78) Wt. 407

Plate LXXX Reubell Benefaction