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

1822 pattern sword comprising a nearly straight slender blade with a lozenge-section tip and shallow fuller, swept 'Gothic' guard with 'VR' monogram in escutcheon; sharkskin cover to the grip; blade with etched tendrils to the fuller, crown over 'VR' monogram on one face and 'JEP' beneath crest on the other; ricasso with maker's name 'Henry Wilkinson, pall mall'; lentoid section scabbard with chape and suspension rings; old collector's handwritten label 'John Ernest Pierson, born Settle, Yorks., son of Revd William Frederick Pierson, 1858; 2nd Lt, 1st batt., Royal Sussex 18.8.79; Lt 2.10.80; Capt. 18.4.85; Major 18.3.96; retired 1902, died 1912, sword issued by Wilkinson, 22.9.7.1879; Present at surrender of Kafr-el-Dower; occupation of Damanhur; Transport Officer, 1st Batt., Nile 1884-5, Desert Column.' 1.41 kg, 99.5 cm



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

Featuring a rounded cutting edge and a long neck, a round socket with four lateral extensions. 397 grams, 18.9 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.

Triangular in section with radiating cutting edges and a slender point, cylindrical socket; mounted in a display frame. 229 grams total, case: 13.1 x 13.1 cm; arrow: 10.5cm



Acquired in the UK in the 1990s. From the private collection of an Essex, UK, gentleman.

Comprising fifteen tanged arrowheads, four with elongated triangular blades and raised midrib, two of squared type with flat tang, three with barbed shoulders and short cylindrical stem with handle for the shaft; two with squared shoulders and rectangular stem with handle for the shaft, one with leafed elongated blade, one with wide triangular head and long handle for the shaft, and other two long and spiked with raised midrib. 240 grams total, 7.1-16.5 cm



London, UK, collection, 1990s.

Some of the arrowheads belong to type V of the Khorasani classification: subtype D (triangular arrowheads with rounded or angular midrib) and subtype C, arrowheads with elongated, triangular shape with barbed shoulders and convex sides, and a raised midrib with a sharp central line.

Mixed group of tanged arrowheads, one a swallowtail type. 72 grams total, 6.8-14.9 cm



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.

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.