A Very Scarce Original Napoleonic AnXI Versailles Infantry Briquet Rare Example of a Napoleonic French Empire Period
Versaille Arsenal AnXI Infantry Briquet Side Arm and Profusely stamped: Handle with 28 twisted strands. the quillon and knucklebow are stamped with the poincon of Jacquesson, Director at Versailles from October 1809 to February 1812. The Knucklebow is also stamped 'Versailles' but now near obscured and has the script B in an oval pioncon of Nicolas Boutet. Blade stamped B and L for Bick and Lobstein we date the sword to the early Empire period, All in all a marvelous piece of Napoleonic history. read more
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Presented By The Queen of Spain in 1837 To US General John H Eaton, President Jackson’s Aide in the Creek War, & The War of 1812. Worn in The American Civil War By Col. Magruder The Hero of Fredericksburg, And By Him At The Funeral of President Lincoln
After personal presentation from the Queen of Spain to General Eaton this sword became the property, by inheritance, and was worn, during the American Civil War, by of US Civil War hero of Fredericksburg, Colonel James A Magruder
Just at the time the war was threatening Colonel Magruder was with General Meigs in erecting fortification in Virginia around the city. When the war came on he was commissioned as Major of the 15th New York Engineers. His regiment was immediately ordered to the front. The pontoon bridge across the Rappahannock River, at Fredericksburg, Virginia, was built under his directions, he at the time remaining in the saddle for sixty straight hours, under a steady fire from the enemy. Soon after going to the front he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and he held that position until the close of the war. He was a personal friend of General Grant. From the repeated cannonading, Colonel Magruder became deaf,
This fabulous eagle hilted sword was worn, after its inheritance from General Eaton, by the friend of Ulysses S. Grant, Col. James A. Magruder, during the Cival War and at the funeral of President Lincoln.
Since 1967, for several decades, this wonderful and historic sword was on display at Dumbarton House in Washington DC, a federal historic house museum
A simply stunning historical Spanish presentation General’s sword, presented, by tradition, to United States General John H Eaton, Envoy Extraordinary & Minister Plenipotentiary for President Andrew Jackson's America, to the Kingdom of Spain, by Her Majesty Maria Christina de Borbon, Queen Consort, and Regent for her daughter Isabella II Queen of Spain, in 1837.
This magnificent sword has a fine tapering double-edged blade of flattened-hexagonal section, stamped 'Ano D 1837' and 'Fa Ntl Di Toledo' on the respective faces at the forte, finest mercurial gilt bronze hilt, cast with wonderful classical ornament in relief, including oval shell-guard decorated with the eagle perched astride the lightning bolts, flanked by classical figures, the quillon-block bears the letter 'F' for Ferdinand' enclosed within a laurel wreath, a pair of straight quillons, knuckle-guard and pommel, and integral grip all decorated en suite, in its blued iron scabbard with gilt-bronze suspensions mounts and drag 76.8 cm; 30 1/4 in blade
Provenance;
By tradition presented to General John H. Eaton US General J.H.Eaton, Envoy Extraordinary for President Andrew Jackson to Spain, who was married to the ward of President Andrew Jackson. It was presented by the Regent of Spain, Her Majesty Queen Maria Christina in 1837, when General Eaton was Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Spain (1836-1840). Maria Christina of Spain (when Regent for her daughter, the future Isabella II) was Maria Cristina de Borbon, Princesa de las Dos Sicilias; 27 April 1806 - 22 August 1878) she was Queen Consort of Spain (1829 to 1833) and Regent of Spain (1833 to 1840). This sword was thence passed after his death to his friend and physician Dr William B. Magruder; thence to his brother Colonel James A. Magruder, a personal friend of General Grant, who wore the sword during the Civil War and on full dress occasions including the funeral of President Lincoln.
Thence by descent and inheritance this sword passed to Mrs. Millicent Magruder Nichols, of Massachusetts, who gifted the sword to Dumbarton House in 1967. Dumbarton House, is a Federal period historic house museum in Washington, DC. The house serves as the headquarters for The National Society of Colonial Dames of America, a group of women whose ancestors contributed to America’s founding. Eaton originally became active in the Tennessee militia, and attained the rank of major. He developed a close friendship with Andrew Jackson, and served as an aide to Jackson during the Creek War and the War of 1812. Eaton took part in all Jackson's major campaigns. He supported Jackson's controversial decision in November 1814 to attack Pensacola in Spanish Florida, claiming that Spain had put herself in a belligerent position by allowing its territory to be occupied by British soldiers. Eaton participated in the Battle of New Orleans, and became a major proponent of Jackson's presidential candidacy following the war. He was later appointed governor of Florida by President Jackson
The First Carlist War was a civil war in Spain from 1833 to 1840, the first of three Carlist Wars. It was fought between two factions over the succession to the throne and the nature of the Spanish monarchy: the conservative and devolutionist supporters of the late king's brother, Carlos de Borbón (or Carlos V), became known as Carlists (carlistas), while the progressive and centralist supporters of the regent, Maria Christina, acting for Isabella II of Spain, were called Liberals (liberales), cristinos or isabelinos. It is considered by some authors the largest and most deadly civil war of the period.
The Carlist forces were split in three geographically distinct armies: Norte ('North'), Maestrazgo and Cataluña ('Catalonia'), which by and large operated independently from each other.
Aside from being a war of succession about the question who the rightful successor to king Ferdinand VII of Spain was, the Carlists’ goal was the return to a traditional monarchy, while the Liberals sought to defend the constitutional monarchy. Portugal, France and the United Kingdom supported the regency, and sent volunteer and even regular forces to confront the Carlist army.
As with every item we sell it will be accompanied with a Certificate of Authenticity, our unique lifetime guarantee read more
5795.00 GBP
An Extraordinary Original Conversation Piece. A Superb, Original, Late Queen Elizabeth Ist to King James Ist Period Miniature Pistol. Late 1500's, To The Turn of The 17th Century, Functioning Miniature Pistol
A pistol made in bronze, many hundreds of years ago, to fire off for the entertainment of the nobility and their children. Dark blue-black bronze age patination
An extraordinary little piece of rarely known history, from the earliest age of the black powder pistol. These intriguing miniature functioning pistols were called petronel, named after the original early name of matchlock and wheellock pistols, and very much of the period, from the Elizabethan to the Carolean age.
A petronel is a 16th and 17th century black powder muzzle-loading firearm, defined by Robert Barret (Theorike and Practike of Modern Warres, 1598) as a horsemans peece. It was the muzzle-loading firearm which developed on the one hand into the pistol and on the other into the carbine. The name (French petrinel or poitrinal) was given to the weapon either because it was fired with the butt resting against the chest (French poitrine, Latin pectus) or it was carried slung from a belt across the chest. Petronels are found with either matchlock or wheellock mechanisms.
The sclopus was the prototype of the petronel. The petronel is a compromise between the harquebus and the pistol. Early petronels date back to the end of the 14th century, with a crude buttstock. Generally the touch hole is on the right side, and fired by a separate slow match. Sometimes they had small hinged plate covers to protect the priming from moisture. By extension, the term petronel was also used to describe the type of light cavalry who employed the firearm. The petronel (cavalryman) was used to support the heavy cavalry such as demi-lancers and cuirassiers. The petronel was succeeded by a similarly armed cavalryman called the harquebusier.
We acquired a stunning little collection of miniature petronel, effectively toys, and they are the Zenith of original, and historical conversation pieces, especially when one considers they are around 450 year old working pistols. Naturally they were not made with the action mechanism of a full sized petronel, one just ignited them with a smouldering match cord, to create an instantaneous small bang and puff of smoke.
Please note, under no circumstances should one try to use them today. Each pistol is to be sold seperately. read more
200.00 GBP
A Fabulous, Rare, Original, Ancient Viking Wrought Iron Battle Hammer-Axe. Around 1100 to 1200 Years Old. Discovered During An Old Excavation at York in 1872. Typography Wheeler TypeIV From The Earliest Period of The Viking Incursions Into England
The renown and famed battle axe of a fearsome Viking warrior, however this is an exceptional and rare type, that incorporates a battle-hammer for smashing and crushing helmets and the like. It is also of heavy weight, ideal for two handed use, but also for single handed combat. This fabulous example has an extra large hammer, likely for use by such as the homicidal Viking Berserkers who had that vital extra strength and power. Ironically even the Viking warriors, who were no shrinking violets, had huge respect and considerable fear of their combat allies, the Viking Berserkers {from where the term 'going berserk' stems from}. It is thought that they may have ingested some form of hallucinogenic plant immediately before combat, in order to remove all forms of hesitation and fear, thus, many regular Vikings feared they could be just as dangerous to them in combat, as their enemies.
This we acquired this, with a Berserker's bronze torc collar, but we offer them seperately
Renown scholar Alcuin of York was back at Charlemagne's court by at least mid-792, writing a series of letters, regarding the brutal Viking raid at Lindisfarne, to Æthelred, to Hygbald, Bishop of Lindisfarne, and to Æthelhard, Archbishop of Canterbury in the succeeding months, dealing with the Viking attack on Lindisfarne in July 793. These letters and Alcuin's poem on the subject, "De clade Lindisfarnensis monasterii", provide the only significant contemporary account of these events. In his description of the Viking attack, he wrote: "Never before has such terror appeared in Britain. Behold the church of St Cuthbert, splattered with the blood of God's priests, robbed of its ornaments.
The Vikings began arriving en masse with armies intent on conquest. These armies were led by Ivar the Boneless, Halfdan, and Ubba, three of the sons of Ragnar Lodbrok, who had been killed by the Northumbrian King Ælla. The first English city to fall to the invaders was York, conquered in 866. The Northumbrians tried in vain to retake the city, and King Ælla was killed in the process. One-by-one, other Saxon realms capitulated until virtually all of north and eastern England was under the direct control of the Danes.
At this point, the strongest Anglo-Saxon kingdom was Wessex, and upon the death of its king Æthelred, Alfred succeeded the throne and took the fight to the Vikings in England, who had begun annexing huge chunks of Mercia, an ally of Wessex. Alfred’s initial campaign against the Vikings was, however, a complete failure. Anglo-Saxon military tactics and defenses were incapable of dealing with Viking raids, and Alfred was eventually forced into hiding in the Somerset Marshes. The Vikings in England had succeeded in opening up the whole of Anglo-Saxon England to their mercy.
In 878, King Alfred came out of hiding and met with the lords still loyal to his cause. During his time in the Somerset Marshes, he had carefully planned a major counter-offensive against the Danish Viking army under Guthrum. Alfred’s campaign was successful, and Guthrum’s army was beaten, first in the field at Edington and then starved into submission at Chippenham. Several years later, a boundary was established, dividing England in two, with one half under Anglo-Saxon control and the other half, known as the Danelaw, under the control of the Vikings.
King Alfred organized better defenses, as well as a powerful free-standing army better equipped to deal with Viking tactics. As a result, subsequent raids and a major invasion attempt were thwarted. The Vikings who were part of this invasion attempt either ended up settling in Danelaw or sailing to Normandy and settling there.
Beyer, Greg. "The Vikings in England (Or were they Danes?)" TheCollector.com, March 11, 2023, https://www.thecollector.com/danes-or-vikings-in-england/
Title page of a late manuscript of the Prose Edda written by Snorri Sturluson (13th century), showing the Ancient Norse Gods Odin, Heimdallr, Sleipnir, and other figures from Norse mythology, plus the legendary axe hammer.
The Tjängvide image stone with illustrations from Norse mythology
By Berig - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3682858
Showing axe hammers in combat and a Viking longship
7 1/2 inches across, cutting edge 2 3/4 inches, read more
1295.00 GBP
An Original Very Rare Neck Torc of a Legendary, Notorious & Terrifying Viking Mercenary Warrior, A Spectacular, Original & Ancient Viking 'Berserker's' Status Neck Adornment in Bronze. Even the Fiercesome Viking's Were in Fear Of Them. 1200 Years Old
This superb historical antiquity was acquired by us, with a companion piece, a Viking War Hammer- Axe, and, due to its heft, it was also likely used by a Viking Berserker, rather that a more regular Viking warrior. They are both {the axe and torc} around same age, circa 840 ad.
It was thanks to our last, very rare example, being noticed on our website by a Viking collector, who owned this fabulous similar torc, and a war hammer-axe and javelin spear, who then offered us his pieces.
This example however has a different twist copper bronze alloy design, and a naturally 'polished' patinated surface, our last example had an unpolished patinated surface, caused by differing geological conditions that it was conserved within, for the past 1000 years, that it was buried. There is normally ten to twenty years between pieces such as this appearing to us, but thanks to our improving worldwide presence we are delighted to be offered this beauty in such a remarkably short time frame since our last remarkable example.
If any former collector of original Viking warfare bronze adornments has similar pieces they may wish to sell, please consider contacting us, we are always incredibly keen to acquire additional rare Viking antiquities for our gallery’s collection. As the largest specialist dealers in Europe in military antiques and antiquities we are always keen to be contacted by current or former collectors.
A very large bronze Torc, in traditional Viking twisted wirework, heavy grade copper bronze with a fine emerald green patina. Berserkers were among the most feared of the Norse Viking bare-skinned warriors of their age, ingesting hallucinogens to induce a trance-like fury that carried them through battle.
It is believed they fought hand to hand, naked, and bearing nothing but their weapons, a shield and wearing only their status neck torc
The Lewis Chessmen, discovered in Scotland but believed to be Norwegian, date to the 12th century and include a number of pieces showing wild-eyed berserkers biting their shields.
In the fierce warrior culture of the Vikings, there was one type of elite, almost possessed, norse warrior that stood out for their battle fury and violence: the Viking Berserker.
They were careless in their fury, leading many historians to think that they used mind-altering substances to hype themselves up for battle. Berserkers may have felt as though nothing could hurt them. And the English phrase “berserk,” usually describing a frenzied state of anger, comes from these Norse warriors.
Viking berserkers existed as mercenaries for hundreds of years during the Scandinavian Middle Ages, traveling in bands to fight wherever they could get paid. But they also worshiped Odin and were associated with mythological shapeshifters.
And eventually, Norse berserkers became so fearsome that they were entirely outlawed by the 11th century
The Torslunda Plates, which were discovered in Sweden and date to the 6th century, likely depict how berserkers would have dressed in battle.
Most of what comprised the life of a Viking berserker is a mystery because their practices weren’t recorded in detail until the using mind-altered states in battle had been outlawed by the Christian church.
At this time, Christian writers on a mission to condemn any sort of pagan traditions often gave biased, altered accounts.
We do know that berserkers were inhabitants of Scandinavia. It’s written that they guarded Norway’s king Harald I Fairhair as he reigned from 872 to 930 A.D.
They also fought for other kings and royal causes. Archaeological findings from the time when a Viking berserker would have reigned supreme show that they were among elite warriors who were wild and reckless when fighting battles.
A detail of one of the 6th-century Torslunda Plates found in Sweden. It is believed to depict Odin wearing a horned helmet and a berserker wearing the mask of either a wolf or bear.
According to Anatoly Liberman in Berserks in History and Legend, the berserkers roared and otherwise made a lot of noise when in battle. One artistic depiction of the berserkers found in Tissø, West Zealand, showed them wearing a horned helmet.
The word “berserker” itself is derived from the Old Norse serkr, meaning “shirt,” and ber, the word for “bear,” suggesting that a Viking berserker would have worn the hide of a bear, or possibly wolves and wild boars, to battle.
But, rather than wearing the skins animals, the stories told of the Norse warriors who would be so enraged for war that they would literally become wolves and bears to win the battles before them.
In the National Museum of Denmark is the Golden Horn
Imagery of berserkers often depicted them semi-nude, like on this 5th-century golden horn discovered in Møgeltønder, Denmark with naked berserkers wearing neck torcs
Berserkers were originally thought to be named after a hero in Norse mythology who fought without any protective gear or “bare skinned.”
“The nakedness of the berserkers was in itself a good psychological weapon, because such men were naturally feared, when they showed such disregard for their own personal safety,” according to the National Museum of Denmark.
“The naked body may have symbolized invulnerability and was perhaps displayed to honour a war god. The Berserkers were thus dedicating their lives and bodies to the battle.”
Although this imagery is fascinating, experts now think that the term comes from wearing bear skins instead of “bare skin”. So, it’s likely that they got their name from wearing animal skin in battle.
Artistic depictions of a Viking Berserker showed Norse warriors wearing the skins of animals in battle. They may have felt like wearing the skins of perceived wild animals like wolves and bears helped increase their strength.
They might have also thought that it helped them channel the aggression and brutality that hunting animals have when going after their prey.
In 872 AD, Thórbiörn Hornklofi described how Norse warriors that were bear-like and wolf-like fought for King Harald Fairhair of Norway. Nearly a thousand years later, in 1870, four cast-bronze dies depicting Berserkers were discovered by Anders Petter Nilsson and Erik Gustaf Pettersson in Öland, Sweden.
Every single item from The Lanes Armoury is accompanied by our unique Certificate of Authenticity. Part of our continued dedication to maintain the standards forged by us over the past 100 years of trading read more
1295.00 GBP
A Very Good & Most Rare Viking Period Javelin Spear, A 'Frakka' Head, ᚠᚱᛅᚴᚴᛅ. During the War Between The Aesir & The Vanir, Odin Threw A Javelin Into The Vanir Host. Circa 900 AD.
Just arrived with a bronze copper alloy Viking Berserker's neck torc and a substantial war hammer-axe. possibly all from a grave of a Viking Berserker uncovered in the 1870's.
Medially ridged leaf shaped blade, with a long tapering spiked tang. Although not as glamorous as the sword, the spear was in every sense the definitive weapon of the Viking Age and used as the primary weapon of combat by almost every warrior. This form of long throwing javelin spear has an iron socket spike at the base, that in order to create a javelin, its bottom spike would be driven into a suitable haft by around 4.5 inches, up to the end of the socket, and this would thus create a most devastating long distance throwing weapon of warfare.
Decorated spearheads inlaid with precious metals prove that in the Viking Age spears were not seen as the poor man's choice and one has only to look at the representations of warriors from the illuminated manuscripts of the era to quickly come to the conclusion that the use of the spear was ubiquitous. Swords are considered a most valuable historical find, as is a same era spear, however, a similar condition surviving Viking era sword could cost today well over 18,000 pounds, so the cost of this large spear by comparison is very good value indeed.
A fine example of a 10th century spear that can be found in England, that came from Viking invaders, who used such spears from Eastern Europe, all Scandinavia, Northern Europe, Central Europe and Britain. Many of the Anglo-Saxon phrases used to describe both battle and warrior help to underline the importance of the spear. In Voluspo (from the Norse Poetic Edda) line 24 onwards -we read :
Vápnum sínum skal-a maðr velli á
feti ganga framar,
því at óvíst er at vita,
nær verðr á vegum úti geirs of þörf guma
let fly a spear, hurled it over the host;
that was still the first war in the world,
the palisade surrounding the Aesir's stronghold was breached
by the Vanir battle-magic, as they strode the plain.
During the War between the Aesir and the Vanir, Odinn threw a javelin into the Vanir host to signal the commencement of hostilities. The practice of symbolically throwing a spear into the enemy ranks at the start of a battle was sometimes used in historic clashes, to seek Odinn’s blessing.
17.5 inches long overall. Part of an original medieval collection we have just acquired, of Viking and early British relics of warfare from ancient battle sites recovered up to 220 years ago. Almost every iron weapon that has survived today from this era is now in a fully russetted condition, as is this one, because only the later swords of kings, that have been preserved in national or Royal collections, are today still in a good state and condition, but due to rarity no Viking swords remain that are still in a good surface condition. read more
1175.00 GBP
A Scarce Victorian 1895 Pattern British Infantry Officer's Sword, With Field Service Scabbard. Used At The Battle of Omdurman, Through WW1 & Into WW2. Reports From Its Use, The 1895 'New Pattern' Were Very Positive In Its Use In Combat At Omdurman
This infantry officer's sword, of regulation pattern, with its Field Service leather covered wooden scabbard, was used in combat service in the The Battle of Omdurman. Then continually, in the following 20th century, in the two world wars. It is the rarest pattern of its type of infantry officer's sword, that was made in 1895 for just two years before the pattern was slightly altered at the half basket. The 1895 had a sharp edge in the inner bowl that used to wear when it rubbed against the officer's uniforms, this was changed by creating a small curl at that inner edge in 1897, and the pattern then titled the 1897 regulation pattern
Omdurman was fought on September 2, 1898, and was a decisive victory for the Anglo-Egyptian forces led by General Kitchener against the Sudanese Mahdist army commanded by the Khalifa Abdallahi ibn Muhammad.
This battle marked the culmination of the Anglo-Egyptian reconquest of Sudan and effectively ended the Mahdist state.
The blade is straight and symmetrical in shape about both its longitudinal axes. The thick blade has a deep central fuller on each side and is rounded on both its edge and back towards the hilt, giving a “dumbbell” or “girder” cross section. Through a gradual transition, the blade becomes double edged towards the tip, and the last 17 inches were sharpened when on active service. The blade ends in a sharp spear point.
The guard is a three-quarter basket of pressed, plated steel. It is decorated with a pierced scroll-work pattern and had the royal cypher of the reigning monarch set over the lower knuckle bow. In this case it is VR for Queen Victoria.
The 1895 regulation pattern Infantry officer's sword was slightly improved after two years with a small rim fold in the half basket in 1897, and has thus remained unchanged to the present day.
By the time of its introduction, the sword was of somewhat limited use on the battlefield against rapid-firing rifles, machine guns and long-range artillery. However, the new sword was regarded, when needed, as a very effective fighting weapon. Reports from the Sudan, where this sword was used in close-quarters fighting, during the Reconquest of the Sudan 1896-99, were highly positive.
Field Marshal Montgomery advanced into battle with his 1897 Pattern drawn during a counter offensive in the First World War. The actual sword he carried is exhibited in the Imperial War Museum, London.
One of the famous British officer's of WW2, who was a devoted exponent of hand to hand sword combat, using his sword in battle, was infantry officer 'Mad' Jack Churchill.
After fighting at Dunkirk, he volunteered for the Commandos. On one occasion, a general who had commented on his weaponry, Churchill is said to have replied "Any officer who goes into action without his sword is improperly dressed."
Very bright polish with traces of old polished out light pitting throughout. Small leather chape lacking from the base of the scabbard read more
475.00 GBP
A Super, 1950's Vintage, Yet Incredibly Affordable, Triple Calender Moon-Phase, Complicated Movement of 17 Rubies, Wristwatch, in Rolled Gold By Rex of Switzerland. Hand Winding Movement. An Amazingly Beautiful Collector's Piece.
We show in the gallery two other vintage hi-end collectors watches, of around the same age, and looking very similar to ours. However, the Rolex examples we show are valued at six figures, one for sale by top class watch specialist is $250,000 dollars!.
Important note, we are specialists in many fields, such as antiquarian books, affordable, original antiquities, and military antiques, especially Japanese. But, we are not watch specialists, in any way at all. We have bought many thousands of fine pocket and wrist watches, over the past 100 years, but we have yet to service a single example. We buy them, enjoy brief ownership, and pass them on to collectors, ‘as is’, as antique or vintage collectables, but, always priced accordingly.
This delightful watch we offer is a Circa 1950's Rex triple calendar, moon-phase, plus small seconds dial, watch, in a 34mm yellow gold filled case with steel back. With its original silvered dial, with embossed yellow gold indices and red 'crescent moon' day date on a perimeter arm. Overall, in nice original condition for its age, working, but not inspected for cleaning etc. at all. The lens looks original, but does have the usual old surface scratches and a near invisible very small hairline crack.
It looks extraordinarily similar to the two Rolex examples we show in the gallery, but at a mere fraction of a fraction of the price.
Apparently founded in 1783, Rex was a Swiss watch maker specialising initially in fine pocket watches, day date disk complication pocket watches, and latterly in the 20th century, in wrist watches, however, they are no longer trading anymore.
In its essence, a moon-phase watch relays the 29.5 day lunar cycle by displaying the current phase (sunlit portion) of the moon on the dial of the watch. The 29.5 day cycle is the time it takes to get from a new moon, when it’s not visible, to a full moon and back again. Most often a moon-phase display is referred to as a moon-phase complication since it’s an added feature to the watch similar to the date.
The moon-phase complication was instrumental in developing a perpetual calendar. The first wristwatch with a moon-phase complication and perpetual calendar was by Patek Philippe in 1925 with the reference 97975. Rolex introduced its own version of the complication in 1949 with the reference 8171.
The true magic of these tiny mechanisms is that they are like miniature mirrors, reflecting to the wearer nothing more than the passage of the earth around the sun, decoding this celestial information and compiling it in a tangible and readable format.
Every function that is added to a mechanism requires further math, more gears and greater attention to the precision of the passage of time. These additional functions are aptly referred to as complications.
The triple-date moon phase watch has four extra complications, each marking the next higher increment of time. First we have the inclusion of the date, a common enough complication among mechanical pieces. Next is the addition of the day of the week, still a relatively straightforward addition. Beyond this, the addition of the month, a feature that necessitates further calculation, higher orders of the accumulation of time across many days. Finally, is the addition of a complication which indicates the phase of the moon – from the new moon to the full and back again, it marks the position of the moon in relationship to our position on the planet.
While moon phase clocks have been in existence for centuries (and in some cases even longer!), the first known example of a wristwatch with this level of complication was the Breguet Perpetual Calendar, released in 1929. Not surprisingly, these early moon phase watches trade at incredible values (a version of this early Breguet sold at Christies a few years ago for over $475,000), many brands successfully created moon phase watches of their own, such as REX and Movado, allowing for many great options at much more approachable price points.
As a point of interest, one of the best points about this watch, is, that from only four feet away, when worn on the wrist, it looks near identical to its same aged cousin { the Rolex moon-phase watch}, however, it's finest advantage is that it is £995, not, $250,000. read more
995.00 GBP
Original German WWII 15cm Nebelwerfer 41 Inert Rocket. Original, WW2 German Third Reich 'Nebelwerfer 41' Un-Fired or Failed Detonation Rocket. D-Day 'Operation Overlord' Vintage
The German designation Nebelwerfer, (Smoke Launcher), was actually a camouflage term used to hide the development of rocket launchers which had been banned as a result of the Treaty of Versailles following the end of WWI. Under the camouflage term German armament firms continued development of rocket launchers which fired smoke or high explosive shells in direct violation of the Treaty. In 1941 the 15cm Nebelwerfer 41 was introduced and it would be come the standard weapon utilized by the Nebeltruppen. The Nebelwerfer 41 consisted of six firing tubes mounted on a two wheeled split trail carriage. The 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41 (15 cm NbW 41) was a German multiple rocket launcher used in the Second World War. It served with units of the Nebeltruppen, German Chemical Corps units that had the responsibility for poison gas and smoke weapons that were also used to deliver high-explosives during the war. The name Nebelwerfer is best translated as "smoke mortar". Allied troops nicknamed it Screaming Mimi and Moaning Minnie due to its distinctive sound.
Rocket development had begun during the 1920s and reached fruition in the late thirties. This offered the opportunity for the Nebeltruppen to deliver large quantities of poison gas or smoke simultaneously. The first weapon to be delivered to the troops was the 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41 in 1940, after the Battle of France, a purpose-designed rocket with gas, smoke and high-explosive warheads. It, like virtually all German rocket designs, was spin-stabilized to increase accuracy. One very unusual feature was that the rocket motor was in the front, the exhaust venturi being about two-thirds down the body from the nose, with the intent to optimize the blast effect of the rocket as the warhead would still be above the ground when it detonated. This proved to greatly complicate manufacture for not much extra effect and it was not copied on later rocket designs. It was fired from a six-tube launcher mounted on a towed carriage adapted from that used by the 3.7 cm PaK 36 and had a range of 6,900 meters (7,500 yd). Almost five and a half million 15 cm rockets and 6,000 launchers were manufactured over the course of the war.
Inert rocket example is dated 1944 and bears the manufacturer code emh. Round is approximately 37" tall constructed in steel with three main sections which can be taken apart with its inner workings present and waffenamt stamped. Overall condition is excellent with areas of minor pitting.
The Nebelwerfer 41, is unlimbered and placed in position by its crew of four men. As soon as the protective coverings have been removed, the projector is ready to be aimed and loaded. The ammunition is attached to the right and to the left of the projector, within easy reach, and the shells are introduced two at a time, beginning with the lower barrels and continuing upward. Meanwhile, foxholes deep enough to conceal a man in standing position have been dug about 10 to 15 yards to the side and rear of the projector. The gunners remain in these foxholes while the weapon is being fired by electrical ignition. Within 10 seconds a battery can fire 36 projectiles. These make a droning pipe-organ sound as they leave the barrels, and, while in flight, leave a trail of smoke. After a salvo has been fired, the crew quickly returns to its projectors and reloads them. Only its original empty steel shell casing and parts, no propellant, no ingnition system, thus completely safe in all regards.
No restrictions to ownership or personal display, but only for sale to over 18's.
Not suitable to Export. UK mainland delivery only. 38 inches long approx.
Copy and paste for original film of Nebelwefer in use on youtube; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtSTMYGEyaM
A similar example can be found at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum as seen at this link; Rocket, Surface-to-Surface, Nebelwerfer 15cm Wgr. 41 Spr. read more
895.00 GBP