Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History, Stamps & Coins

A single-edged, single-handed and guardless sabre (шашка) with slightly curved blade with a thick back; tubular guard to protect the junction with the grip; hooked pommel with hole to accept a securing strap or thong; probably 1881 pattern but lacking scabbard or grip. 723 grams, 99 cm



From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s.

Comprising a triangular blade with a broad midrib, a short neck and a square-section tang with a bent finial. 309 grams, 32.6 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.

Of broad, lobed outline, pierced centrally with a rectangular aperture, the perimeter forms four rounded lobes, arranged in opposing pairs and separated by inward-curving notches, a raised, rounded border enclosing the decorated field, the principal face densely ornamented in relief with stylised figural forms, grotesque creatures and curling scrollwork, elongated bodies and limbs extend around the central opening, while coiled, serpentine forms fill the outer lobes, small leaves, rounded bosses and subsidiary curls occupy the intervening spaces. 68.3 grams, 71 mm



Acquired on the European art market. UK, private collection.

The lobed form, central aperture and raised perimeter are consistent with a detached shell guard from a sword hilt. Such a guard would have been fitted around the blade at the base of the hilt, forming part of the protection for the hand. Its decoration belongs to the ornamental vocabulary found on late 17th- and early 18th-century sword furniture, in which figures, fantastic creatures and foliage were combined across relatively small cast or chiselled surfaces. A useful comparison is the English smallsword-type infantry hanger dated 1720-1750 in the Colonial Williamsburg collection. Its cast brass hilt incorporates paired shell guards with raised borders and densely arranged classical figures and foliage. The correspondence in construction and treatment supports the present plate’s interpretation as a sword-hilt component and its proposed date.

Comprising a slender two-edged blade with gusseted midrib, rounded tip; the neck twisted through 90° ending in a conical flange; square-section tang with right-angled bend and square button finial. 320 grams, 44.5 cm



Ex Abelita collection, 1980s-2010.

Triangular blade with a wide midrib extending towards the flaring shaft and a rectangular-section tang. 300 grams, 41 cm



Ex Abelita collection, 1980-2010.

A 1796 Pattern with gently curved single-edged blade with thick back, fuller to both sides for most of the blade's length, broad 'hatchet' tip; swept guard with D-shaped side-lugs to protect the scabbard from damp; short grip with leather and cord binding; back with legend 'J.J.Reinkel Solingen'; grip cracked. 809 grams, 95 cm



From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s.

Comprising a triangular blade with a rounded tip, a flaring neck with incised barleytwist detailing, and a square-section tang with bent tip. 355 grams, 32.2 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.

Biconical in profile, inscribed with capital letters AIN on one face. 29.1 grams, 27 mm



From a German private collection, formed since the 1980s.

Inscription 'AIN' can be either the abbreviation of a personal name like Aineas ( the Trojan hero Aeneas) or maybe referring to the Ainianes, the people of Ainis.

Featuring a leaf-shaped blade and an expanding tubular socket. 199 grams, 25 cm



Acquired on the UK art market since the 1960s. From the private collection of Mr J.P.H., a Woolwich, UK, collector, his collection formed since the 1960s.

Comprising a waisted, leaf-shaped two-edged blade with incised detailing, carved wooden hilt with integral crossguard, end of the tang bent over at the top; leather sheath with moulded ribbing, twisted leather thong forming a thick suspension loop and leather-covered knop forming a chape. 81 grams, 19.5 cm



From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s.

Comprising: wooden haft with tapering end; heavy rectangular block with lozenge-section spike above, hook to rear and broad curved blade; screw fitting to tubular sleeve attached to the haft. 1.44 kg, 140 cm



From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s.

Comprising a triangular two-edged blade with incised linear detailing, carved wooden hilt with carved ribbing to the angles, integral crossguards, domed button finial; leather sheath with crocodile-skin panels, twisted leather thong forming a thick suspension loop, braided leather knop forming a chape. 172 grams, 23 cm



From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s.