Bonhams 1793 : A scarce American naval surgeon's sword retailed by A.W. Spies

Straight, narrow 28 inch blade with 14 inch blued panel, one side engraved and gilt with a floral panel and with a fouled anchor and leafy branch at the hilt; reverse with panoply of arms and with oak leaves and A.W. Spies in a riband; both sides with central panel reserved in the white and etched with florals. Hilt brass stirrup hilt, the languets molded with fouled anchors and laurels within roped borders, the backstrap molded with laurel leaves and berries; grip wrapped in white shagreen bound with copper wire.
Condition: Blade with patches of corrosion overall, one side retaining much of the blued and gilt decoration, the other side with slight traces. Hilt retains 95% gilt finish. Grip wrap showing some wear, the shagreen slightly shrunk away from the wood.
See Illustration

Sold for US$ 1,404 inc. premium

Footnotes

Note: See pages 122-23 of The American Sword, 1775-1945, Harold L. Peterson, for a very similar example, also by A.W. Spies, from the United States National Museum.

Category: Arms and Armour

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