A SECOND HALF OF THE 18TH CENTURY "PINCH OF SNUFF" BASKET-HILTED BACKSWORD
ENGLISH CIRCA 1750 – 1785
Auction: Day 2: Thursday 21 August - Lots 297 - end
Description
the basket formed of six oval panels with pierced, scalloped decoration and one open panel, with wire bound fish skin grip, the single-edge sword with fuller running almost entire length
Dimensions
87.5cm long (blade), 104cm long (overall)
Footnote
Basket hilts of this distinctive design are often called ‘Pinch of Snuff hilts’, being taken from the appearance in a fine portrait of an Officer taking snuff by William Delacour, circa 1757. For a fuller description see Stephen Wood, ‘Blades of Glory: Swords of the Scottish Infantry 1756-1900’, in the American Society of Arms Collectors Bulletin, 1995.
The same style of hilt is also seen in other portraits of the period giving the consideration these hilts originate in the later 18th century. However a silver example hallmarked for London 1745 has been noted, sold ‘Antique Arms, Armour and Militaria’ Thomas Del Mar Auctions in London in December 2014 lot 330, bringing the use and popularity of this pattern to before the Jacobite Rebellion.
Examples can be seen in the collections of the Royal Armouries, Leeds (IX.224), the Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, Glasgow (E 1954.1.b), the National War Museum of Scotland (M. 1963.133) among other private and important collections.
Their popularity certainly grew post ’45 and within the Officer class of the now expanding British army being sent to fight across the world right up until the late 1780’s.
This example likely dates to the later end of the century, circa 1760 – 1780, with the addition to the blade of an inspector’s mark of the Board of Ordnance. Struck with the cutler's mark ‘Gill’ which most likely is from Thomas Gill II who started the long running Birmingham and London based family in the trade, by 1783 they were listed as ‘Sword Cutler to Government, the Army, Navy etc….’.