Antique Arms & Militaria
A Singularly Beautiful & Rare Victorian Folk Art Silk 'Royal' Maritime Embroidery Woolwork, A ‘Jack Tar’ Sailor’s Woolwork or ‘Woolie’. The White Ensign, Red Ensign, Blue Ensign, Union Flag, Scottish Standard, Shamrock Flag
Although encompassed in the term 'woolwork', the better quality examples, such as this, were made from silk obtained by the sailors who stitched them, usually in China or Japan. Set in a simulated rosewood frame. 19th century Victorian royal crest with British maritime flags of the Royal Navy, The White Ensign, Red Ensign, Blue Ensign, Union Flag, Scottish Standard, Shamrock Flag and surmounted with a life preserver. At the base is the royal motto in a scroll 'Dieu Et Mon Droit' beneath the English rose the Scottish thistle and Irish shamrock. All on a blue silk ground with silk and embroidery decoration throughout. Often made by sailors when at sea during quiet periods and brought home for framing. Sometimes called a sailor's silkwork. From about 1840 to World War I, many British sailors passed the long hours in port or on the open sea by sewing these wool pictures, commonly called Woolies. Many have a naive charm, but some are so well executed that they rival their counterparts in oil. Primarily Woolies depict ships, but some are known to contain other subjects such as patriotic symbols, flags and crests. As Woolies were works of pride or sentiment, none were done in bad taste or caricature. Unfortunately, the names of the artists have been lost to history because Woolies tend to be unsigned. But sometimes they give us small clues as to their origin.
The enchantment of Woolies is that they are folk art. They were made by the hands of men who were not formally trained in embroidery. Regardless, it is understandable how such tough men could create such delicate pictures. Woolies are the creative product of sailors spare time, excess materials and a basic, yet necessary, familiarity with needle and thread. Until the mid-1880s the average seaman had no standard uniform. Not only did he sew his own clothes, but also one of his duties was to maintain the ship?s sails. Furthermore, sailors used embroidery to individualize and embellish their garments, frequently in eccentric designs. Therefore, spare time between watches combined with basic sewing skills and imagination became the rich soil from which the art of Woolies grew.
Most of the materials used to make Woolies were found on board ship. Sail canvas, duck cloth from sailors trousers or a simple linen or cotton fabric was used as a base. The stretcher commonly was made from excess wood with simple tenon joints, without wedges. Only the Berlin wool, cotton or silk would need to be brought from home or acquired in a foreign port. Sailors mainly chose to use vivacious colours chiefly white, blue, red, brown and varying shades of green. Early Woolies are made of naturally dyed wool. After the development of chemical dyes in the mid-1850s, sailors could obtain a greater range of colours at a less expensive price.
Only when the sailor returned home did he frame it. Today collectors frequently place woolies in maple frames, but originally the frames were quite diverse. Sometimes they were made of a simple wood; other times they were highly carved or gilded. Woolies reached their height from about 1860-80. Several events led to the eventual demise of the craft. After the advent of steam engine power, the dependency on sails and the large crews required to maintain them came to an end. This in turn influenced the size of the crews as well as their required skills. Sailors no longer needed to know how to sew in order to repair the sails, nor did they need to make their own clothing anymore. Photography also allowed a sailor to remember his travels through photographs instead of his own wool work.
Jack Tar (also Jacktar, Jack-tar or Tar) is a common English term originally used to refer to seamen of the Merchant or Royal Navy, particularly during the period of the British Empire
In the age of wooden sailing vessels, a ship's rigging was rope made of hemp, which would rot quickly in such a damp environment. To avoid this, the ropes and cables of the standing rig were soaked in tar, which had to be replenished by tarring.
Seamen were known to 'tar' their clothes before departing on voyages, in order to make them waterproof, before the invention of waterproof fabrics. Later they frequently wore coats and hats made from a waterproof fabric
Top left blue silk ground has some fading. Size 23 inches x 24 inches in frame read more
3250.00 GBP
A Very Fine Pair of Absolutely Beautiful French, Napoleonic 1st Empire Period, Circa 1804, Duelling Pistols, by Arlot of Paris, Near Identical To Napoleon's Pair of Duelling Pistols Taken at Waterloo
Made circa 1804 by master gunsmith and maker to the King of France, Jean Arlot of Paris. Jean Arlot was a very fine gunmaker, based in Paris [c.1780-1815] and was the Royal gunmaker to King Louis XVI, prior to the French Revolution. These wonderful pistols were made in the period when Napoleon declared himself Emperor of all France, known as the 1st French Empire Period. There is a most similar beautiful pair of French duellers in the Rijksmuseum in Holland [see them in our photo gallery for comparison] that belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte, those pistols came into the possession of Lieutenant Henry Sagermans of Brussels shortly after the Battle of Waterloo. Sagermans claimed the pistols were found in Napoleon's travel carriage which had been abandoned near the battlefield. This French Empire period pair of pistols were originally crafted in the late flintlock period and then expertly converted to percussion, including careful engraving the hammer in order to match the original lock’s engraving which are signed "ARLOT" at the centres. The swamped barrels have fine "micro-groove" style rifling, a dovetailed blade front sight, engraved Bachereau "A PARIS", a sighting groove that extends onto the breech plug, and a notch rear sight within the groove. They are also equipped with adjustable single set triggers, very finely engraved furniture, spurred trigger guards, and a chequered and carved half-stocks. Fine with 85% plus blue finish light case colours, crisp engraving, grey and brown patina on the balance, and general light age and storage related wear. Aside from a single hairline crack the stocks are superb, and they have crisp carving and micro chequering with light wear commensurate for age.
Napoleon gifted allies and personal friends with splendid weapons from the Versailles Arms Factory, very similar to this stunning pair. Such presents could be expensive even for luxury goods: King Charles IV of Spain, an ally of France and a dedicated huntsman, received a set of nine guns, also a pair of duelling pistols which cost 130,000 francs (which was the equivalent of 36,000 days of wages for a skilled tradesman in those days, thus approx 12 years pay).
Napoleon and the art of honouring loyalty and bravery
In France, it was customary for the King to award weapons of honour for exceptional service. Awarding royal military honours was stopped with the abolition of the monarchy in 1792, but reinstated a couple of years later by Napoleon, then Commander-in-chief.
Napoleon first awarded arms of honour for individual acts of bravery during the Italian campaign of 1796-1797, and he decided to increase doing so in an order from 28 August 1797. The distribution of weapons of honour was made official by the Consulate in an order from 25. December. Napoleon regulated which ranks received what kind of arms: officers received pistols, grenadiers and the line infantry received rifles or sabres, and the cavalry troops received rifles, too.
The gifts Napoleon made to military heroes and statesmen were also admired by the British. While usually not being present with them, they bought or took them from Napoleon’s fallen allies that were defeated in the war or went into exile. The 1st Marquess Wellesley, Brother to Arthur Wellesley, presented George, The Prince of Wales, in May 1810 with a pair of flintlock rifled pistols. Its barrel was inlaid with gold ornaments. It is part of the Royal Collection Trust
practices and rituals were codified in the Code Duello of 1777 which set forth rules describing all aspects of an "affair of honour," from the time of day during which challenges could be received to the number of shots or wounds required for satisfaction of honour. For gentlemen the law "offered no redress for insults" he might be subject to from rivals and enemies. Shooting a fellow officer in a duel "gave a sharp edge to one's reputation, earned congratulations in the regimental mess, and brought admiring glances from the ladies. Higher military authorities regarded duelling as a proof test of courage" Although theoretically banned by British Army regulations, refusing a challenge was likely to result in an officer having to leave his regiment, for the same rules that banned duelling forbade an officer from submitting to "opprobrious expressions" or "any conduct from another that should degrade him, or, in the smallest way impeach his courage." To decline a challenge was often equated to defeat by forfeiture, and was sometimes even regarded as dishonourable. Prominent and famous individuals ran an especial risk of being challenged for duels.
Among the most famous duels are the American Burr-Hamilton duel, in which notable Federalist Alexander Hamilton was fatally wounded, and the duel between Duke of Wellington and the 10th Earl of Winchilsea, wherein each participant intentionally missed the other. In New Orleans in 1817 wealthy Creole Bernard de Marigny challenged American blacksmith James Humble to a duel. Humble at nearly seven feet tall had the advantage of size but had never so much as handled a weapon before, and Marigny was only five-nine but a deadly fighter. But by tradition, Humble, as the challenged party, had choice of weapons and location. His choice: the duel would be fought with blacksmith hammers standing in six feet of water in Lake Pontchartrain. Marigny immediately declared that he could not possibly harm a man with such a sense of humour and invited Humble home for dinner. Some were fought over matters of great import, such as Whig leader George Tierney's challenge to William Pitt, after the prime minister accused him of a lack of patriotism; while at the other extreme, in 1721, two Irishmen fought over the correct spelling of a Greek word. Natchez, Mississippi: September 20, 1827: Formidable frontier knife fighter Jim Bowie was shot twice, stabbed "many" times, and had a sword impaled in his chest but still managed to stand, fight, and kill in a gentlemen's duel gone dreadfully wrong.
Since duelling is illegal in Mississippi, it all happened on a sandbar on the Louisiana side of the Mississippi River just west of here, yesterday. Samuel Wells of Natchez faced Louisiana doctor Thomas Maddox in a pistol duel. Each man had a large contingency of witnesses. Both men were allowed two shots at each other. Both missed. So, the actual duel ended with a laugh, with a handshake and with the opening of a bottle of wine, celebrating the duellers new found friendship.
Bowie was Wells second in the duel, and Judge R.A. Crane from Louisiana was Dr. Maddox's second.
As the wine flowed so, suddenly, did the anger, not between the duellists but between the two seconds, Jim Bowie and Judge Crane.
Crane pulled a pistol and fired twice. A bullet punctured Bowie's thigh. He went down. The second bullet hit Bowie's friend Dr. Samuel Cuney, who was there just to witness the duel. He slumped to his knees, then toppled face first to the sand? dead.
Brawling bloody bedlam began. Friends of each dueler became mortal enemies. Bullets whined through gun smoke, and knife blades slashed in the sun.
Major Norris Wright, a banker from Alexandria who hated Jim Bowie and had tried to kill him before, took the opportunity to unsheathe his cane sword and impale Bowie in the chest as Bowie lay wounded on the ground. With the sword still sticking in his chest, Bowie grabbed Wright's coattails and pulled Wright toward him on the ground, slashing Wright's mid-section back and forth with his big, curved knife, killing him instantly.
Witnesses say Bowie then stood up with the sword wobbling in his chest, a bullet in his thigh, and a knife wound gaping in his side, as attackers continued to stab him and shoot at him.
When the attacks stopped, either through fear or fatigue, two men lay dead; two more men tried to patch serious wounds; and the others wiped blood with torn shirts from their grazes and gashes.
As smoke cleared, the dead and wounded were taken by boat across the river to Natchez for civilised burial and modern medical treatment. Sometimes, however, duels were fought for political reasons. In 1798, the Prime Minister of England, William Pitt, accused George Tierney, an opposition politician, of desiring to obstruct the defence of England. Tierney demanded that Pitt withdraw the accusation; Pitt refused. Tierney challenged him to a duel, and the two met near London. The first set of shots went wild, and Pitt fired his second shot into the air, thereby vindicating honour. As with all our antique guns no license is required as they are all unrestricted antique collectables 1cm of one sideplate lacking to one reverse side of one pistol. Mechanically, both pistols are very fine indeed, of top quality craftsmanship, with fine crisp actions. 245mm barrels, overall 370mm long read more
7995.00 GBP
A Fine & Beautiful Pair of Porcelain Cabinet Plates of Emperor Napoleon & Empress Josephine, From the World Renowned Porcelain Factory of Royal Copenhagen.
Finest porcelain dished plates bearing fine portraits of the emperor and empress of France, decorated with deluxe finest brushed pure gold borders. Makers mark to each dish. Slight original glaze wear within Josephine’s hair style.
Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de La Pagerie was born in 1763 in Martinique to a wealthy white Creole family that owned a sugarcane plantation. In 1779, she married Alexandre de Beauharnais, with whom she had two children. The marriage was not a happy one, leading to a court-ordered separation. In 1794, during the Reign of Terror, Alexandre was executed but Josephine was freed thanks to the fall and execution of Robespierre.
Josephine met Napoleon, six years her junior, in 1795. Napoleon was enamored with Josephine, with whom he had a passionate affair. In January 1796, Bonaparte proposed to Josephine and they married in March. Until meeting Bonaparte, Josephine was known as Rose, but Bonaparte preferred to call her Josephine, the name she adopted from then on.
The marriage was not well received by Napoleon’s family, who were shocked that he had married an older widow with two children. Two days after the wedding, Bonaparte left to lead the French army in Italy. During their separation he sent her many love letters, but both spouses also had lovers. Despite his own affairs, their relationship was never the same after he learnt about hers.
The coronation ceremony, officiated by Pope Pius VII, took place at Notre Dame de Paris in December 1804. Following prearranged protocol, Napoleon first crowned himself, then put the crown on Josephine’s head, proclaiming her empress.
When after a few years it became clear Josephine could not have a child, Napoleon, though he still loved his wife, began to think seriously about the possibility of divorce and created lists of eligible princesses. In November 1809, he let Josephine know that in the interest of France he must find a wife who could produce an heir. Despite her anger, Josephine agreed to the divorce so the Emperor could remarry in the hope of having an heir.
Despite his divorce from Josephine, he showed his dedication to her for the rest of his life. When he heard the news of her death while on exile in Elba, he locked himself in his room and would not come out for two days. Her name would also be his final word on his deathbed in 1821.
Juliane Marie was known as a modern queen and a strong supporter of the country. It was the task of the reigning monarch to safeguard the country’s economic health with the development of domestic products and services. Her greatest legacy was founding the Royal Danish Porcelain Factor y in 1775.The production of porcelain was not entirely unknown to Juliane Marie. Her brother, Charles I of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel had also founded a porcelain factory in Fürstenberg, Germany. In addition, their sister was married to Frederik II of Prussia, one of Europe’s absolute monarchs who in 1763 founded a porcelain factory in Berlin. Although the siblings corresponded, the secret for porcelain manufacturing was not shared between them and it was only in 1774 that porcelain was first produced in Copenhagen. Finally, Juliane Marie and the Danish royal family had their own valuable porcelain production, like other European monarchies.
THE ROYAL CROWN AND THE THREE WAVES
Juliane Marie was adamant from the start that each piece of Royal Copenhagen porcelain would be stamped with its unique factory mark: the three hand-painted waves that symbolise Denmark’s waterways, the ‘Oresund’ or Sound, the Great Belt and the Little Belt. The queen also introduced the royal crown stamp to highlight the factory’s royal association. The crown has changed over time and can be used to date each piece of Royal Copenhagen.
In the 1700's, it was good diplomatic practice amongst royalty and aristocracy to give fine porcelain as gifts. Following Danish defeat at the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801, Lord Nelson bought Royal Copenhagen porcelain for his beloved Lady Hamilton. The Danes lost the battle. But a love of Danish porcelain was victorious.
273mm wide read more
A Very Fine & Rare, Signally Beautiful, Anglo-American War of 1812, 'Eagle Head' & Scroll Fretted Hilt, American Officer's Sabre. In Great Condition.
It was quite extraordinary, but we acquired a pair of these fabulous and very rare American eagle head pommel and scroll fretted hilted sabres, that have been together since the war of 1812, possibly owned by brothers that served, but naturally, officer's swords were never sold as pairs, or indeed used as such, but, none the less, they have been together for almost 200 years. We are, however, selling them individually. We similarly and equally amazingly bought a pair of French Napoleonic sabres by the same maker, we also are selling them separately, but the coincidence is simply extraordinary.
Eagle head pommel with fully feathered back strap, in brass, with scroll fretted knuckle guard, and carved bone grip. Almost all the deluxe grade American officer’s sabres had the expensive alternative option of a carved bone hilt, as opposed to carved ivory, as enjoyed by their British counterparts, as the new nation of America lost all its access to ivory after its split from being part of the British colonial forces. Another one of the long list of negative consequences resulting from the revolution of 1776. It has an engraved bright polished blade, and its original brass mounted leather scabbard, with both twin ring belt strap supports, and an alternative wear option of a frog mount stud. Overall in excellent condition, with usual aged blade etching surface wear.
Used in the War of 1812 period, and a very nice example of these very fine swords, For Canadians, historically, the War of 1812 was the successful defence of a small colony against attack by a much larger neighbour.
Canadians endured repeated invasions and occasional occupations, but each invasion ultimately ended with an American withdrawal. The Royal Navy and British Army supported by Canadian regulars, Canadian militia, and First Peoples warriors, successfully defended Canada. Isaac Brock, Charles de Salaberry, Laura Secord, and Tecumseh became, and remain, iconic Canadian figures. The successful defence of Canada allowed British North America to evolve into an independent transcontinental country.
The War of 1812 was fought between the United States of America and Great Britain and its colonies, Upper and Lower Canada and Nova Scotia, from 1812 to 1815 on land and sea. The Americans declared war on Britain on June 18, 1812, for a combination of reasons, outrage at the impressment (seizure) of thousands of American sailors, frustration at British restraints on neutral trade while Britain warred with France, and anger at British support for native attacks along the frontier which conflicted with American expansion and settlement into the Old Northwest. The war started poorly for the Americans as their attempts to invade Canada were repeatedly repulsed; later in the war, American land forces proved more effective. The Royal Navy lost some early single-ship battles but eventually their numbers told and the naval blockade of the eastern seaboard ruined American commerce, and led to extreme dissatisfaction in New England. Following the American raid and burning of York (now Toronto), the British raided the Chesapeake Bay area and burned parts of Washington D.C. but were repulsed at Baltimore and withdrew. The Americans gained naval control of Lake Erie and Lake Champlain, preventing the planned British invasion of New York. The Americans destroyed the power of the native people of the Northwest and Southeast. With the defeat of Napoleon in 1814, and the stalemate on the battlefields, both nations agreed to a peace that left the prewar boundaries intact.
The small thumb pictures in this gallery are of our other near identical matching American 1812 sword, the large photos are correct for this sword . Other photos to add on Monday
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 our family’s trading, as Britain’s oldest established, and favourite, armoury and gallery read more
1595.00 GBP
A Stunning King George IIIrd 1756 Pattern Light Dragoon Flintlock Pistol, 19th & 25th Light Dragoons, Part of The East India Company Cavalry Contingent Combating the ‘Tiger of Mysore’ Tipu Sultan
With finest walnut stock with amazing natural age patina, and traditional brass furniture and two British EIC traditional ‘heart’ marks, one on the stock the other on the barrel. From the historical 'Siege of Seringapatam' used by the British 19th & 25th Light Dragoons, serving with the East India Company. The 19th played a major role in the Anglo-Mysore Wars and Anglo-Maratha Wars. Their first campaign was against Tipu Sultan of Mysore from 1790 to 1792. After defeating Tipu, the 19th were on garrison duty until 1799 when war broke out with Tipu again. This time, the Sultan was killed during the Battle of Seringapatam.
Tipu Sultan was the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in Southern India. An enemy of many of his neighbours as much as he was of the British East India Company.
Tipu remained an implacable enemy of the British East India Company, sparking conflict with his attack on British-allied Travancore in 1789. In the Third Anglo-Mysore War, he was forced into the Treaty of Seringapatam, losing a number of previously conquered territories, including Malabar and Mangalore. He sent emissaries to foreign states, including the Ottoman Empire, Afghanistan, and France, in an attempt to rally opposition to the British.
In 1800, the 19th fought Dhoondia Wao's rebel army and in 1803, led by Major-General Arthur Wellesley (who later became the Duke of Wellington), they participated in the Battle of Assaye. In this battle, the outnumbered British troops defeated a Maratha army and the regiment was subsequently awarded the battle honour of "Assaye" and presented with an honorary colour.
They were stationed at Cheyloor in 1802, at Arcot in 1803, in Bombay in 1804, and at Arcot again from 1805 to 1806. The regiment was summoned to Vellore on the night of 10 July 1806 to rescue the 69th Regiment of Foot who had been the victims of a revolt by Indian sepoys. The 25th Dragoons (raised for service in India by F E Gwyn on 9 March 1794) was renumbered 22nd (Light) Dragoons in that year. This 22nd (Light) Dragoons regiment served throughout the Napoleonic Wars, which began in 1805, and was disbanded in 1820.
Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, the rulers of the Kingdom of Mysore, offered much resistance to the British forces. Having sided with the French during the Revolutionary war, the rulers of Mysore continued their struggle against the Company with the four Anglo-Mysore Wars. Mysore finally fell to the Company forces in 1799, with the death of Tipu Sultan.
Napoleon and Tipu Sultan
In 1794, with the support of French Republican officers, Tipu allegedly helped found the Jacobin Club of Mysore for 'framing laws comfortable with the laws of the Republic'. He planted a Liberty Tree and declared himself Citizen Tipoo. In a 2005 paper, historian Jean Boutier argued [likely wrongly] that the club's existence, and Tipu's involvement in it, was fabricated by the East India Company in order to justify British military intervention against Tipu.
One of the motivations of Napoleon's invasion of Egypt was to establish a junction with India against the British. Bonaparte wished to establish a French presence in the Middle East, with the ultimate dream of linking with Tippoo Sahib. Napoleon assured the French Directory that "as soon as he had conquered Egypt, he will establish relations with the Indian princes and, together with them, attack the English in their possessions." According to a 13 February 1798 report by Talleyrand: "Having occupied and fortified Egypt, we shall send a force of 15,000 men from Suez to India, to join the forces of Tipu-Sahib and drive away the English." Napoleon was unsuccessful in this strategy, losing the Siege of Acre in 1799 and at the Battle of Abukir in 1801. It was, as with all Napoleon’s ‘alliances’ simply a way to remove Britain’s ability to oppose his own Empire ambitions. His term ‘establish relations’ has been used for centuries since by controlling despots as a benign appearing phrase that is actually in reality an umbrella term for ‘control and dominate’.
It has been said in numerous quarters, especially by denigrators of the former British Empire, that the magnificent sub continent of India suffered much under British rule, however let’s not forget prior to the British arrival, and even during, despite their best efforts, India had been ruled with an iron fist for millennia by dozens of kings, nawabs, maharajahs, and princes who had stripped so much wealth from India that many became the richest men on earth, some worth 10 or 100 times the worth of the billionaires of today. So much wealth it is almost inconceivable to understand and comprehend today. There were of course a few benign and caring rulers, but as a rule they were deposed, murdered or imprisoned, often by sons with a somewhat less ‘sympathetic nature’ to their subjects.
As with all our antique guns no license is required as they are all unrestricted antique collectables. Very good and tight action. A horn tipped ramrod. As with all our antique guns they must be considered as inoperable with no license required and they are all unrestricted antique collectables read more
1895.00 GBP
A Fabulous, 18th Century Sea Captain's Brass Cannon Barrel Pocket Blunderbuss Pistol. A Near Pair to the Pistol Presented To America’s Most Famous Revolutionary War Naval Commander John Paul Jones
This has to quite simply be one of the most beautiful and outstandingly attractive 18th century pocket pistol you will ever see.
A rare and and most fine original 18th Century Sea Captain's cannon barrel pocket Pistol, that is almost a pair to the John Paul Jones Sea Captain’s pistol presented to him by the 18th century American Congress
Brass cannon barrel flintlock pocket pistol, the barrel is three stage cannon barrel type, with a good working flintlock action, with sliding safety catch, maker marked by a fine maker, from a world renown English naval port and harbour, Bristol.
We show in the gallery a photograph of an almost identical brass cannon barrelled ships captain's pocket pistol in the Massachusetts Historical Society Museum Collection, a near pair to our pistol, that was said to have been presented by US Congress to John Paul Jones (1747-1792), a newly appointed captain in the Continental Navy, on October 10, 1776.
In many respects such a pistol was considered a symbol of rank and status in both the British and American navies, as it is said only the Captain would be permitted to carry such an arm on board, hence its presentation by Congress to Jones as a symbol of his command of a ship of the line in the US Navy.
As early as 1420, vessels from the English port Bristol were regularly travelling to Iceland and it is speculated that sailors from Bristol had made landfall in the Americas before Christopher Columbus or John Cabot. After Cabot arrived in Bristol, he proposed a scheme to the king, Henry VII, in which he proposed to reach Asia by sailing west across the north Atlantic. He estimated that this would be shorter and quicker than Columbus' southerly route. The merchants of Bristol, operating under the name of the Society of Merchant Venturers, agreed to support his scheme. They had sponsored probes into the north Atlantic from the early 1480s, looking for possible trading opportunities. In 1552 Edward VI granted a Royal Charter to the Merchant Venturers to manage the port.
By 1670, the city had 6,000 tons of shipping, of which half was used for importing tobacco. By the late 17th century and early 18th century, this shipping was also playing a significant role in British world trade.
John Paul was born near Kirkbean in Scotland to John Paul, Sr. and Jean McDuff. He first went to sea as an apprentice at the age of 13 and continued to work on merchant and slave ships as a young man. On a voyage aboard the brig John in 1768, both the captain and a ranking mate of his vessel died suddenly of yellow fever, and John Paul navigated the ship safely back to port. As a reward, the Scottish owners promoted him to master of the ship and its crew. Eventually he fled Scotland for North America to avoid charges of murder, due to his killing of a so-called mutineer in Tobago, and changed his name to John Paul Jones. He was assigned as a 1st Lieutenant in the newly-founded Continental Navy on 7 December 1775 and went on to become the first well-known naval commander in the Revolutionary War. He is sometimes referred to as the "Father of the American Navy". After a long career, including a stint in the Imperial Russian Navy, he died in Paris in 1792. During the American Revolution Capt John Paul Jones urged that “open and hostile operations” be utilised on any of “the Towns of Great Britain or the West Indies.” These targets, included the important ports of “London, Bristol, Liverpool, Glasgow and Edinburgh,” He suggested a brilliant US naval war strategy, in that he acknowledged that the US Continental Navy couldn't possibly defend the American ports and harbours against attack by the most superior Royal Navy. However, if the US Navy attacked the poorly defended enemy harbours and towns the Royal Navy would be forced to divert ships to defend all vulnerable British ports and thus keep those vessels away from the American harbours and coastal towns. In the gallery we show period paintings and engravings of Capt.Jones utilising his small box lock pistols in his numerous naval close combat assaults.
One interesting reveal as to Capt Jones character.
Before he fled England to avoid a murder charge he lived for some time in the sea port town of Whitehaven, where, apparently, the locals treated him well, and with the usual friendliness and courtesy as to expected. However some few years later, at 11 p.m. on April 22, 1778, Commander John Paul Jones led a small detachment of two boats from his ship, the USS Ranger, to raid the shallow port at Whitehaven, England, where, by his own account, 400 British merchant ships are anchored. Jones was hoping to reach the port at midnight, when ebb tide would leave the shops, that he intended to plunder, at their most vulnerable.
Jones and his 30 volunteers had greater difficulty than anticipated rowing to the port, which was protected by two forts. They did not arrive until dawn. Jones’ boat successfully took the southern fort, disabling its cannon, but the other boat returned without attempting an attack on the northern fort, after the sailors claimed to have been frightened away by a ‘noise’. To compensate, Jones set fire to the southern fort, which subsequently engulfed the town, and burnt much to the ground, rendering many of the townsfolk homeless and thus destitute. Some might say it is a most interesting way of repaying his historical debt of courtesy to the decent people of Whitehaven. However, it must be pointed out that legend has it that Capt. Jones was of a most chivalric character, and had many fine points, none the least of which was his much respected skill in his new tactics of attacking his former home in order to cause terror and fear to the people of England.
Benjamin Franklin fully agreed with Captain Jones new tactic of terror and fear warfare, but he considered he could not condone it officially, as he believed it would be most counter productive to appear that a new sovereign nation could be engaging in what we we would call today, terrorism. Political sensitivities were as much a part of life then as they are today, and were indeed over, say, two thousand years ago, or in fact, likely since the dawn of mankind, and whenever it was that for the very first time a stone age man began to consider what others would think of him or her, and how he or she was regarded by their neighbours.
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 our family’s trading, as Britain’s oldest established, and favourite, armoury and gallery read more
2395.00 GBP
Historismus Chinese Bronze Helmet, Ancient C.400bc Warring States Era Style
A fabulous statement piece, ideal for a interior decor centrepiece. Probably mid 19th century. With good green aged patination, and as tradition dictates, cast in one piece. In the past 30 years or so we have had only a very few of this style of helmet, and just two have been original and the correct age that they should. This is a Historismus period example. It is a most beautiful work of art, extremely pleasing, decorative, and it would compliment any historical or classical display of arms or antiques. We don't normally acquire or sell non period items but historismus pieces have always been desireable and most collectable in their own right. Historicism or also historism and historismus comprises artistic styles that draw their inspiration from recreating historic styles or imitating the work of historic artisans. This is especially prevalent in architecture, such as revival architecture. Through a combination of different styles or implementation of new elements, historicism can create completely different aesthetics than former styles. Thus it offers a great variety of possible designs.
In the history of art, after Neoclassicism which in the Romantic era could itself be considered a historicist movement, the 19th century saw a new historicist phase marked by an interpretation not only of Greek and Roman classicism, but also of succeeding stylistic eras, which were increasingly considered equivalent. In particular in architecture and in the genre of history painting, in which historical subjects were treated of with great attention to accurate period detail, the global influence of historicism was especially strong from the 1850s onwards. The change is often related to the rise of the bourgeoisie during and after the Industrial Revolution. The history and evolution of armour in Chinese warfare is difficult to ascertain with certainty, given its often perishable nature, but text descriptions and appearances in art, such as in wall paintings and on pottery figurines, along with surviving metal parts can help reconstruct major developments. Just who wore armour and when is another point of discussion. Military treatises of the Warring States period (c. 481-221 BCE) suggest that all officers of any level wore armour. The same sources contain references to commanders keeping armour in storage bags and distributing it to troops, but at least some of the ordinary conscripted infantry probably had to provide their own. This obviously depended on their means, and being farmers it is unlikely to have been a realistic possibility for most. 31 cm high, weight 3 kilos. read more
995.00 GBP
Most Interesting & Incredibly Rare 19th Century Cornish Tin Miner’s Leather 'Tull' Helmet
A most rare artefact of early English mining. this amazingly historical piece of the earliest British mining industry would make an incredible display for a former miner or miner's family.
These days they are only ever to be seen in museums or recreated for historical dramas such as 'Poldark'. A style of helmet that was copied by the British army to create the WW1 Brodie helmet. This helmet was formed from a single piece of boiled leather, some economy versions were made of shaped felt soaked in pine resin. Under the tull, miners would wear a strip of cloth; helping the tull to fit. Candles were attached to the tull using lumps of clay. While working the tull was usually removed and the candle stuck to a nearby ledge. 4 small holes to brim. GC read more
595.00 GBP
An Original and Beautiful Elizabethan Period Helmet of the Spanish Armada Period Circa 1570
An armour 'pear stalk' cabasset helmet from the era of the unsuccessful Spanish 'Armada', the attempted invasion of England, during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth Ist. Used continually through the English Civil War and into the reign of King James. A fine one piece high peak cabasset helmet made in the mid to late 16th century. Wonderfully hand forged with hammer marks and with patches of delamination. This super helmet is nicely constructed with good edgework and lovely quality throughout, and it is a fine period piece in excellent condition for age. This form of helmet that survive today in England were often captured from the Spanish Armada armouries, and some even recovered from the sea bed alongside Spanish cannon, beneath the stricken Spanish ships, and subsequently issued to the London Trayned Bands. There is a picture in the gallery of the same form of helmet [heavily rusted] recovered from Jamestown, the early American colony fort. The History of the Cittie of London Trayned Bandes
(1572-1647)
In the absence of a regular army, the trained bands, founded in 1572 as part of Elizabeth I's efforts to modernise the militia, were the only permanent military units in England. While the county bands were often poorly organised, ineptly officered and infrequently trained, the London bands were not, although enthusiasm did wax and wane considerably over the years of their existence (1572 - 1647).
The Regiments
Before the Civil War there were four London regiments - the North, South, East and West - comprising a total of 6,000 men in 20 companies. In 1642, as relations between king & parliament worsened, the bands were re-organised into 40 companies of 8,000 men in six regiments named the Red, Blue, Green, White, Orange and Yellow after the colour of their regimental flags, or "trophies", as they were known to London militiamen. The following year, after the King's unsuccessful attempt to seize The Capital, three more trained band and five "auxiliary" regiments were raised bringing the whole force to around 20,000 men. This large army, controlled by the mayor and the city aldermen, held London for parliament throughout the first Civil War (1642 - 1646) and contributed brigades of foot to parliament's field armies. The establishment and subsequent rise of the New Model Army after 1645 greatly reduced the significance of the bands and they gradually melted away. Today, only the Honourable Artillery Company, a ceremonial unit of ex-soldiers, remains as a legacy of the glory days of London citizen?s solders. Weapons & Equipment
Weapons and equipment conformed to statute laid down by the Privy Council. The following description is from the 1638 issue of "Directions for Musters".
The Pikeman
"Must be armed with a pike seventeen feet long, head and all; the diameter of the staff to be one inch 3/4, the head to be well steeled, 8 inches long, broad, strong and sword-pointed; the cheeks 2 foot long, well riveted; the butt end bound with a ring of iron, a gorget, back, breast, tassets and head piece, a good sword of 3 foot long, cutting and stiff pointed with girdle and hangers".
The Musketeer
"Must be armed with a good musket, the barrel four foot long, the bore of 12 bullets in the pound rowling in, a rest, bandolier, head-piece, a good sword, girdle and hangers".
One other picture is a period engraving of an Elizabethan soldier with his pear stalk cabasset, another picture of The Battle of Gravelines, August 8, 1588, which is of the defeat of the Spanish Armada by Sir Francis Drake, Queen Elizabeth's Admiral. Pictures shown for information only. Some text is quoted from an article by Mr Steve Rabbitts on London trayned bands read more
1995.00 GBP
A Fabulous 18th Century Brass Blunderbuss Barrelled Flintlock Royal Naval Captain's Pistol, c 1760, By Isaac Bissell a Renown Scottish Maker Of Leith & Birmingham, Who Also Traded in London
Made by isaac Bissell a maker from 1740 to 1780 who was a renown naval captain's pistol maker, supplier to the crown, and also similarly renown as a top maker of finest Scottish Highland officer's pistols, in the all metal Scottish fashion, with rams head butts. One of his surviving original, Scottish pistols is marked "RHR" on the barrel, standing for the Royal Highland Regiment (becoming the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment "Black Watch"), and many of the pistols carried by the men of the 42nd during the French and Indian War were actually made by Isaac Bissell.
This fine example was used by a British Naval Captain since the Anglo French wars in America, the American Revolution and right through the Napoleonic Wars. A good length pistol, with a typical, swamped, barrel, the octagonal breech having view and proof marks, with the barrel gently changing to round, and a very finely strawberry-leaf engraved brass rounded lock, signed by Isaac Bissell with unbridled frizzen and swan neck cock.
Superb ‘Jutland Regia’ walnut fullstock with bulbous butt; brass mounts and a tutaneg grotesque mask butt cap, rococco tutaneg escutcheon, a rococco, Romaneque pierced sideplate, and trigger guard with acorn finial; with horn tipped wooden ramrod. Very good condition brass cannon barrel .
These kind of all brass pistols were the weapon of choice for naval officers and ship's captains in the 18th century for use at sea. This is a superb example. The muzzle (and often the bore) was flared with the intent not only to increase the spread of the shot, but also to funnel powder and shot into the weapon, making it easier to reload in haste. The flared swamped muzzle is one of the defining features of this fabulous pistol. Ship's Captain's found such impressive guns so desirable as they had two prime functions to clear the decks with one shot, and the knowledge to an assailant that the pistol had the capability to achieve such a result. In the 18th and 19th century mutiny was a common fear for all commanders, and not a rare as one might imagine. The Capt. Could keep about his person or locked in his gun cabinet in his quarters a gun just as this. The barrel could be loaded with single ball or swan shot, ball twice as large as normal shot, that when discharged at close quarter could be devastating, and terrifyingly effective. Potentially taken out four or five assailants at once. The muzzle was swamped like a cannon for two reasons, the first for ease of rapid loading, the second for intimidation. There is a very persuasive psychological point to the size of this gun's muzzle, as any person or persons facing it could not fail to fear the consequences of it's discharge, and the act of surrender or retreat in the face of an well armed pistol such as this could be a happy and desirable result for all parties concerned.
Tutaneg was an exotic imported metal and popular in the 18th to the cusp of the 19th century. It was referred as such in 'Voyages and Descriptions by the great Capt. William Dampier. 1652-1715'. And in Daniel Defoe's book of 'The Adventures of Robert Drury'. It resembled silver but stronger like nickel, and was a metal used in England for small items of interest where silver was not practical. It's use died out in the 19th century. William Dampier was the first Englishman to explore parts of what is today Australia, and the first person to circumnavigate the world three times. He has also been described as Australia's first natural historian, as well as one of the most important British explorers of the period between Sir Walter Raleigh and James Cook. Traces of a small old contemporary fore-end wood repair
**Special Conservation Item
As with all our antique guns no license is required as they are all unrestricted antique collectables read more