Maritiem Digitaal
collectie zoeksyteem van de maritieme musea
geen titel
titel | geen titel
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inventarisnummer | WPN1539
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collectie | Edged Weapons
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museum | National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
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datum | circa 1750
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omschrijving | British Army Horseguards sword supposedly surrendered to Nelson. The hilt consists of an iron/steel guard of open basket type- the basket being formed by bars joining the knuckle bow and pierced shell- lined with a piece of red cloth- backed with leather and bound round the edges with blue woven material- cut to fit the shell; the side piece of the guard is screwed into the side of the pommel. There is a white fish-skin grip- bound with three gilt wires- a lion's-head pommel with prominent tang button- and a trailing quillon.
The blade is straight- with a flat-back and ending in double-edged spear point- extending for the final 203mm of the blade. There is a central fuller- with as second fuller towards the back edge for much of its length- and a third fuller extending the length of the shoulder. The scabbard is tooled black leather- with a geometric design- incorporating an arrow- on the obverse and reverse and with two mounts. It is lined with wood. The mounts- top locket and chape have a simple line decoration- and there is a frog stud for suspension - elongated.
This sword was surrendered to Nelson during the Battle of St. Vincent by a Spanish officer aboard the San Josef (see papers in records). Originally owned by Captain Nelson - given to him by Sir John Cowell? - and sold at the sale of the effects of his widow- Mrs Nelson- at Goldalming- 26 January 1921; auctioneers Messrs Debenham. A dealer (unnamed - a Mr W.G. Mills?) bought it and sold it at a profit to Mr Burdett (another dealer) 9 February 1921. Mr Burdett then sold it to Mr Rowe 26 February 1921. On her death- his widow bequeathed it to NMM. (The papers received with the sword relate to Mr Rowe's attempts to prove the sword's authenticity and provenance). According to Christie's description- this was a British officer's backsword of the last quarter of the 18th century. The sword was taken to the Meyrick Society- who identified the sword as that of 1st or 2nd Troop of Horseguards- which became the Lifeguards after 1788- and dated the sword as about 1750.
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afmetingen | Blade: 908 x 32 mm
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