SECOND QUARTER OF THE 18TH CENTURY

with tapering blade double-edged towards the point and with central fuller over its entire length over each side, a narrow fuller bordering it along the back, iron guard composed of waved bars of rectangular section framing a large central panel and two side panels, the former pierced with two horizontal rows of waved bars between lightly punched fluted borders, the forward loops enclosing diamond-shaped panels each with four heart-shaped piercings centred on a concentric circle, the side panels each with two ‘ram’s horns’ and pierced with triangles and pairs of circles all centred on a pair of hearts, rear quillon engraved ‘WA’ over ‘S’ and with scrolled wrist-guard, fluted conical pommel with flattened tang button, and writhen fishskin-covered grip bound with a strand of silver wire between silver ferrules, 82.2 cm blade

Provenance

Believed to have been owned by Nicholas Bogart Quackenbush (1734-1813), a member of the fourth generation of Albany Quackenbushes, who sided with the Revolutionary Cause during the time of the American Revolution

Literature

David Oliver, ‘The Quackenbush Sword: A Basket Hilted Sword by Walter Allan Of Sterling’ in London Park Lane Arms Fair Guide, Spring 2009, pp. 79-81, pls. 1 & 2

Another example, by the same hilt maker, was sold in this room, 26 June 2007, lot 253.