You may also be interested in

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

1665840 — Flintlock gun, 19th century.

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

1663396 — A percussion rifle, 19th century.

A Cased Pair Of Scottish 50-Bore Percussion Duelling Or Target Pistols By Alex.r Martin, Glasgow, Mid-19th Century

£2,500 - £3,500

The medals and associate ephemera and uniforms of Arthur Watts, 6th Inniskilling Dragoons

£1,000 - £2,000

A Pair Of Highland All-Metal Percussion Belt Pistols Signed Paton & Walsh Perth, Mid 19th century

£2,000 - £3,000

A Silver-Mounted Left-Hand Dagger, probably German, Italian or English Late 16th Century Or Later

£500 - £800

FOUR REPRODUCTION CARVED POWDER HORNS/FLASKS.late 20th century.

208 — FOUR REPRODUCTION CARVED POWDER HORNS/FLASKS.

THREE CARVED COCONUT ITEMS.18th/19th century.

209 — THREE CARVED COCONUT ITEMS.

210 — A COLLECTION OF ANTIQUE AND REPRODUCTION POWDER FLASKS AND RELATED SPORTING ITEMS.

211 — THREE VICTORIAN ARMS AND ARMOUR DECORATIVE ITEMS.

Fine Antique Arms and Armour Including items from the Per T. Norheim Collection

Previous Lot

Next Lot

Lot 67^*

A Rare Sawasa-Hilted Small-Sword
Japanese For The European Market, First Half Of The 18th Century

29 April 2010, 11:00 BST

London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £4,320 inc. premium

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

How to sell

Looking for a similar item?

Our Arms and Armour specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.

Find your local specialist

A Rare Sawasa-Hilted Small-Sword
Japanese For The European Market, First Half Of The 18th Century

With associated tapering blade of flattened hexagonal section stamped 'Knecht' on the front side of the ricasso, characteristic blackened hilt decorated in relief with gilt pagodas and prunus inhabited by birds against a punched ground, the shell-guard centred on engraved and gilt foliage, later knuckle-guard mounted with a parcel-gilt dragon menuki at the centre, mushroom-shaped pommel, and associated shagreen-covered grip bound with twisted copper wire (some blackened finish refreshed)
80.7 cm. blade

Footnotes

Provenance:
Gavin Todhunter Collection, Christie's London, Antique Arms, Armour and Militaria, 16 July 2003, lot 129

For information on sawasa see Sawasa, Japanese export art in black and gold 1650-1800, exhibition catalogue, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, 1998, and especially, for small-swords, pp. 48-54, cat. nos. A.5.1-A.16.1

See lot 194

Additional information

This sale is now finished. If you are interested in consigning in future sales, please contact the specialist department. If you have queries about lots purchased in this sale, please contact customer services.
Buyers' Obligations
ALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.
If you have any questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest client services team.
From 28 June 2025, the import into the EU of non-EU property of a certain age (and in some categories above a certain value) is subject to additional requirements. Under the relevant EU Regulation, it is the Buyer's sole responsibility to assess whether any Lot meets the criteria for import into the EU. The refusal of any required Import Licence or Importer Statement, or any delay in obtaining such Licence or Statement shall not give rise to the rescission or cancellation of any Sale, nor allow any delay in making full payment for the Lot.
Buyers' Premium and Charges
For all Sales categories, buyer's premium excluding Cars, Motorbikes, Wine, Whisky and Coin & Medal sales, will be as follows:
Buyer's Premium Rates
28% on the first £40,000 of the hammer price;
27% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £40,000 up to and including £800,000;
21% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £800,000 up to and including £4,500,000;
and 14.5% of the hammer price of any amounts in excess of £4,500,000.
A 3rd party bidding platform fee of 4% of the Hammer Price for Buyers using the following bidding platforms will be added to the invoices of successful Buyers for auctions starting on or after 6th July 2024 – Invaluable; Live Auctioneers; The Saleroom; Lot-tissimo.
VAT at the current rate of 20% will be added to the Buyer's Premium and charges excluding Artists Resale Right.
Payment Notices
For payment information please refer to the sale catalog.
Shipping Notices
For information and estimates on domestic and international shipping as well as export licenses please contact Bonhams Shipping Department.
- Arms and Armour

Bid now on these items

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

Saber, Swedish, m/1859 for officer, with scabbard.

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

Sword for an officer in the infantry, Sweden, Gustavian.

SEK8,000

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

Sabre, for officer in the infantry, Sweden, m/1899.

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

A cased pair of Belgian percussion pocket pistols, mid 19th century.

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

Flintlock gun, converted from a percussion lock.

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

A Colt 1849 pocket percussion revolver, 1852.

SEK8,000

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

A 19th century percussion rifle.

SEK4,000

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

A Swedish officer's sabre, with scabbard, second half of the 20th century.

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

Flintlock gun, 19th century.

Lot offered by Bukowskis, part of the Bonhams network

A percussion rifle, 19th century.

A Cased Pair Of Scottish 50-Bore Percussion Duelling Or Target Pistols
By Alex.r Martin, Glasgow, Mid-19th Century

£2,500 - £3,500

The medals and associate ephemera and uniforms of Arthur Watts, 6th Inniskilling Dragoons

£1,000 - £2,000

A Pair Of Highland All-Metal Percussion Belt Pistols
Signed Paton & Walsh Perth, Mid 19th century

£2,000 - £3,000

A Silver-Mounted Left-Hand Dagger, probably German, Italian or English
Late 16th Century Or Later

£500 - £800

FOUR REPRODUCTION CARVED POWDER HORNS/FLASKS.
late 20th century.

THREE CARVED COCONUT ITEMS.
18th/19th century.

A COLLECTION OF ANTIQUE AND REPRODUCTION POWDER FLASKS AND RELATED SPORTING ITEMS.

THREE VICTORIAN ARMS AND ARMOUR DECORATIVE ITEMS.