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Lot 90
A Fine French Small-Sword With Chiselled And Gilt HiltThird Quarter Of The 18th Century
24 May 2023, 10:30 BST
London, KnightsbridgeSold for £3,200 inc. premium
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A Fine French Small-Sword With Chiselled And Gilt Hilt
Third Quarter Of The 18th Century
Third Quarter Of The 18th Century
With slender sharply tapering blade (some pitting) of hollow triangular section, the forte etched and gilt against a blued ground on one side with a panel of symmetrical strapwork and the figure of St. Michael between foliage, and on the other with a similar panel and a foliated oval, crossed banners above, steel hilt of characteristic form chiselled in low relief with medallions suspended from ribbons and variously picked-out in gold with trophies representing war, agriculture, music and the arts, all against gilt fish-roe and pierced trellised grounds, foliate borders en suite involving cornucopiae on the shell-guard and pommel, the latter with button, grip bound with crimped silver ribbon and partly wrapped twisted silver wire between Turk's heads, and retaining nearly all its gilding (some old surface rust), in its original snakeskin-covered wooden scabbard with steel locket, chape and suspension mount en suite with the hilt, and with two suspension rings
83cm. blade
83cm. blade
Footnotes
Provenance
Property removed from Fettercairn House, Kincardineshire, Sotheby's Billingshurst, The Country House Sale, 14-16 September 1999, lot 193 (part)
Almost certainly the property of Sir William Forbes of Pitsligo, 6th Baronet (1739-1806) who became one of the most important bankers in enlightenment Edinburgh. He made the Grand Tour between 1792 and 1793, and was one of the earliest members of the Literary Club, which boasted among its members Johnson, Burke, Reynolds (who painted his portrait), Garrick and others
Facsimile biographical details are offered with the lot








