Lot 642
A RARE EARLY EIGHTEENTH CENTURY SCOTTISH BASKET HILTED BACK SWORD
CIRCA 1700
Scottish Silver & Applied Arts
Auction: 15 August 2018 at 11:00 BST
Description
the iron hilt with large pommel the basket composed of circular bars, the edges of the main knuckle guard and broad shields cut with fish-tailed merlons, with S bars joining the wrist guard decorated with two saltires at the terminals of the back guards, the wooden grip covered with worn black leather with a twist of copper wire, with remnants of leather and velvet lining. the single edge blade struck in the fuller in each side +ANDREA +FERARA and with blade smith marks, the black leather scabbard with iron mounts with cut squares at the base of the locket, top and base of the middle locket and top of the chape
Dimensions
blade 86.4cm long
Footnote
Notes: for a very similar sword with the distinctive S bars see Cyril Mazansky BRITISH BASKET-TYPE SWORD HILTS 2005 page 91.a, for an example within Glasgow Museum Kelvingrove ( E.1954.118) illustrated and a similar sword 'Swords and Sorrows Exhibition 1996 Culloden' item 1:29 from the Jenkinson Collection.
Much has been discussed regarding the bold S bars to hilts such as this with various strong theories around them represent the support of the Stuarts or the origins of such swords from the important Stirling workshops of makers such as Walter Allen.