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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
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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
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(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
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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
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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
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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
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