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A Very Fine Gold And Enamel Hilted Small-Sword Presented To Capt.n Thomas Wolley Of His Majesty's Ship Arethusa image 1
A Very Fine Gold And Enamel Hilted Small-Sword Presented To Capt.n Thomas Wolley Of His Majesty's Ship Arethusa image 2
A Very Fine Gold And Enamel Hilted Small-Sword Presented To Capt.n Thomas Wolley Of His Majesty's Ship Arethusa image 3
Lot 99

A Very Fine Gold And Enamel Hilted Small-Sword Presented To Capt.n Thomas Wolley Of His Majesty's Ship Arethusa
London Hallmarks For 18 Carat Gold For 1802-3, Maker's Mark Of John Ray And James Montague

5 July 2005, 11:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £42,000 inc. premium

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A Very Fine Gold And Enamel Hilted Small-Sword Presented To Capt.n Thomas Wolley Of His Majesty's Ship Arethusa
London Hallmarks For 18 Carat Gold For 1802-3, Maker's Mark Of John Ray And James Montague

With slender tapering blade of hollow triangular section etched and gilt with acanthus foliage and a fruiting vine against a blued ground for most of its length on each side, one side interrupted by the etched presentation inscription, the hilt entirely of gold and of characteristic form, cast and chased in relief with trophies, fruiting vines and wreaths framing ovoidal painted polychrome enamel plaques, those on the grip with the arms of Wolley and Madeira respectively, and those on the pommel with a maritime trophy and a ship respectively, the latter probably representing the Arethusa, arms formed as ribboned garlands, the underside of the oval shell-guard engraved with the presentation inscription, in original shagreen-covered scabbard (repaired with a gold band towards the chape) with gold locket, chape and suspension mount all cast and chased with vines en suite with the hilt, the former signed 'Makepeace, London', and in fine condition throughout: in fitted mahogany case of circa 1835 (keyhole escutcheon missing) fitted and lined in navy blue velvet, the interior of the lid with maker's illustrated trade label of Widdowson & Veale, late John Salter, the exterior (split) with flush-fitting brass carrying handle and brass escutcheon plate
75.5 cm. blade

Footnotes

The presentation inscriptions read: 'From the British Consul and Factory In Madeira To Captain Thomas Wolley of his Majesty's Ship Arethusa'

Captain Thomas Wolley commanded the Arethusa (38 guns) from March 1796 to 1804 and was present at the reduction of St. Lucia and the capture of St. Vincent and Grenada. On 10 August 1797 while in passage from the West Indies and towing a detained neutral vessel, the Arethusa captured the French corvette Gaiete of 20 long 8 pounders and one hundred and eighty-six men. In 1802 the Arethusa brought Brigadier General Clinton and his staff back from Madeira to Portsmouth and it was while at Madeira that Captain Wolley was voted this sword by the British Factory for the protection he had afforded their interests during the war

Provenance:
By direct descent to the vendor

Exhibited:
The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, 1984-2005

Literature:
Leslie Southwick, 'New Facts About James Morisett And A Revised List Of His Known Works, And Other By His Successors John Ray And James Montague', The Journal Of The Arms & Armour Society, Vol. XV, No. 6, pp. 337 and 338, No. 48, illustration No. 10

Additional information

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