Antique Arms & Militaria

A Superb Historical Political Collectable, an Autograph of Benjamin Disreali, Framed With Small Portrait Print.

One of the great political and historical characters of the 19th century. From his personal letter to a gentleman in South Audley St. in London. Signed Disraeli in ink. Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, KG, PC, FRS (21 December 1804 ? 19 April 1881) was a British politician and writer, who twice served as Prime Minister. He played a central role in the creation of the modern Conservative Party, defining its policies and its broad outreach. Disraeli is remembered for his influential voice in world affairs, his political battles with the Liberal Party leader William Ewart Gladstone, and his one-nation conservatism or "Tory democracy". He made the Conservatives the party most identified with the glory and power of the British Empire. He is the only British Prime Minister of Jewish birth.

Disraeli was born in London. His father left Judaism after a dispute at his synagogue; young Benjamin became an Anglican at the age of 12. After several unsuccessful attempts, Disraeli entered the House of Commons in 1837. In 1846 the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Peel split the party over his proposal to repeal the Corn Laws, which involved ending the tariff on imported grain. Disraeli clashed with Peel in the Commons. Disraeli became a major figure in the party. When Lord Derby, the party leader, thrice formed governments in the 1850s and 1860s, Disraeli served as Chancellor of the Exchequer and Leader of the House of Commons. He also forged a bitter rivalry with Gladstone of the Liberal Party.

Upon Derby's retirement in 1868, Disraeli became Prime Minister briefly before losing that year's election. He returned to opposition, before leading the party to a majority in the 1874 election. He maintained a close friendship with Queen Victoria, who in 1876 created him Earl of Beaconsfield. Disraeli's second term was dominated by the Eastern Question?the slow decay of the Ottoman Empire and the desire of other European powers, such as Russia, to gain at its expense. Disraeli arranged for the British to purchase a major interest in the Suez Canal Company (in Ottoman-controlled Egypt). In 1878, faced with Russian victories against the Ottomans, he worked at the Congress of Berlin to obtain peace in the Balkans at terms favourable to Britain and unfavourable to Russia, its longstanding enemy. This diplomatic victory over Russia established Disraeli as one of Europe's leading statesmen.

World events thereafter moved against the Conservatives. Controversial wars in Afghanistan and South Africa undermined his public support. He angered British farmers by refusing to reinstitute the Corn Laws in response to poor harvests and cheap imported grain. With Gladstone conducting a massive speaking campaign, his Liberals bested Disraeli's Conservatives in the 1880 election. In his final months, Disraeli led the Conservatives in opposition. He had throughout his career written novels, beginning in 1826, and he published his last completed novel, Endymion, shortly before he died at the age of 76.  read more

Code: 19980

A Irish Rebellion Knights Rowel Spur of the 16th Century, With its Buckle

From the Desmond Rebellions, that occurred in 1569-1573 and 1579-1583 in the Irish province of Munster.

They were rebellions by the Earl of Desmond head of the FitzGerald dynasty in Munster and his followers, the Geraldines and their allies, against the threat of the extension of their South Welsh Tewdwr cousins of Elizabethan English government over the province. The rebellions were motivated primarily by the desire to maintain the independence of feudal lords from their monarch, but also had an element of religious antagonism between Catholic Geraldines and the Protestant English state. They culminated in the destruction of the Desmond dynasty and the plantation or colonisation of Munster with English Protestant settlers. 'Desmond' is the Anglicisation of the Irish Deasmumhain, meaning 'South Munster'. FitzMaurice first attacked the English colony at Kerrycurihy south of Cork city in June 1569, before attacking Cork itself and those native lords who refused to join the rebellion. FitzMaurice's force of 4,500 men went on to besiege Kilkenny, seat of the Earls of Ormonde, in July. In response, Sidney mobilised 600 English troops, who marched south from Dublin and another 400 landed by sea in Cork. Thomas Butler, Earl of Ormonde, returned from London, where he had been at court, brought the Butlers out of the rebellion and mobilised Gaelic Irish clans antagonistic to the Geraldines. Together, Ormonde, Sidney and Humphrey Gilbert, appointed as governor of Munster, devastated the lands of FitzMaurice's allies in a scorched earth policy. FitzMaurice's forces broke up, as individual lords had to retire to defend their own territories. Gilbert, a half-brother of Sir Walter Raleigh, was the most notorious for terror tactics, killing civilians at random and setting up corridors of severed heads at the entrance to his camps. Sir Humphrey Gilbert (c. 1539 ? 9 September 1583) of Devon in England was a half-brother of Sir Walter Raleigh (they had the same mother, Catherine Champernowne), and cousin of Sir Richard Grenville. Adventurer, explorer, member of parliament, and soldier, he served during the reign of Queen Elizabeth and was a pioneer of the English colonial empire in North America and the Plantations of Ireland. In 1588, the English Lord President of Munster, Sir Warham St. Leger, sent a tract to the English Privy Council identifying the kings of Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connacht, and the feudal lordships which were then in existence. For the most part, the rights and prerogatives of the Irish kings whose territories lay outside the Pale were recognized and honoured by the (English) government in Dublin, which prudently saw that centralized rule of all Ireland was impossible. Largest, richest and most politically developed of the Gaelic Kingdoms of Ireland was Munster, which at its height comprised all of what are today the counties of Cork, Kerry and Waterford, as well as parts of Limerick and Tipperary. Recovered in Ireland over 150 years ago in Kilkenny at a supposedly known battle area. We have mounted on a red board for display. We show for illustration purposes a portrait of Sir Humphrey Gilbert, and 16th century period engraving prints of the rebellion and the aftermath, the fleet landing, the troops marshalling and the execution of the rebels.  read more

Code: 20242

A Very Good & Intriguing 19th Century 'Cult' Stiletto Dagger

A wonderfully fascinating Victorian secret society dagger from one of the mysterious mystical cults. Signed blade, twin headed four breasted goddess dagger hilt. The scabbard's belt hook is a hand holding a snake and the scabbard is engraved with symbolic plants and leaves. It would be from one of the cult that existed in 19th century society and the took many forms, such as 'The Decadent Movement'
In Europe, around the mid-19th century, artists began to rebel against the wide eyes, determined naturalism, and apple-cheeked wholesome idealism of the romantic movement. Tired of celebrating "naturally" good humans and unaffected art, they turned to darker themes, heavy symbolism, and a kind of spiritual subversiveness. And they found Satan. These were the people who started toying with Satan as an intriguing, sympathetic, or even heroic figure. Charles Baudelaire was a famous Decadent, and wrote, "The Flowers of Evil," and "Litanies to Satan."  read more

Code: 22762

A Very Good Decorated Spanish Antique Albacete Fighting Knife

A 19th Century Spanish Fighting knife of Albacete, Spain; The knife measures 28cm in length with an elaborate ornately pierced blade. The blade has two holes and an open panel incised for decoration, with added pin point engraved decoration. The hilt is brass, inlaid with carved bone. The bone has been fluted length ways and further inlaid with decorative brass panels. A Handbook for Travellers in Spain (printed in 1855), by Richard Ford, has a commentary on the knife culture that prevailed in Spain at the time. When we read an account of an exotic land written by an English traveler in 19th century Albacete, Abula, he describes that as owing to its central position, from whence roads and rails branch to Aragon, Murcia, Valencia, and Madrid, it is a place of great traffic, and is a town of locomotives, from the English rail, the French dilly, to the Spanish donkey. . . . "Albacete is called the Sheffield of Spain, as Chatelherault is the knife making centre of France; but everything is by comparison, and the coarse cutlery turned out in each, at whose make and material an English artisan smiles, perfectly answers native ideas and wants. The object of a Spanish knife is to "chip bread and kill a man," "  read more

Code: 20810

SAVE £650 A Rare Pair of Antique Ottoman Empire Iron Stirrups

A pair of antique 17th to 18th century Turkish Ottoman Empire russet iron stirrups of characteristic form, with broad arch treads. All steel construction in the early style that goes back to the medieval period. One picture in the gallery shows Fatih Sultan Mehmet II [using his identical stirrups] entering Constantinople, after his conquest, in 1453. The stirrup took time to appear on the scene. The saddle itself was a relative latecomer in the history of riding ? Alexander the Great, for example, conquered his empire astride some simple pieces of cloth. Saddles with saddle trees, which made stirrups possible, are said to have first appeared in Central Asia around the time of Jesus birth. And after having initially taken the form of a buckle, notably in India,?the first stirrups for both feet reinforcing the rider's balance seem to have arisen around the year 100 in the Kushan Empire (encompassing parts of Afghanistan, modern-day Pakistan and northern India) before spreading to northern China in the 3rd century and the western steppes of Iran in the 6th century. Hundreds of years later around 700 years after Jesus Christ stirrups reached Western Europe, spreading throughout the society around the 9th century. Several routes are possible when explaining their arrival in the region, and expert opinion is divided on the subject. Some say they were brought by the Huns; others affirm that they were introduced by Persians to Arabs, then Arabs to Byzantines; still others believe that Arabs imported them into Europe via southern Spain and the south of France. Whatever the case, the earliest representations of stirrups appear on a chess set piece offered to Charlemagne by the caliph Haroun al-Rachid (who died in 809), then in Spanish documents in the first part of the 9th century.  read more

Code: 22614

SAVE AN EXCEPTIONAL £1000 A Fascinating Original Bronze Age Spear or Lance Around 3400 Years Old

David’s 40th Anniversary price drop, save £1000. It is mounted on an early haft, but added much later, in the early wire bound manner. Used, for example by any of the great bronze age warring peoples such as the ancient Spartans, Minioans, Greeks,Thracians, or the Mycenaea. Spearheads were mostly made in two-piece moulds which have been found in Ireland and the Highlands. During the Early Bronze Age soft stone moulds were used but in the late Bronze Age clay moulds became more popular. There is no evidence to indicate that bronze moulds were used to cast spearheads. After casting a spearhead would have been finished, hammered and occasionally decorated. The remains of hafts are occasionally recovered inside spearheads and they indicate that hafts were mostly made of ash and pinewood. Looped spearheads were probably secured by a cord, copper or leather thong. Pegged spearheads would have been pegged to the spear haft by bronze or wooden pegs. The variation of spearhead size indicates they may have been used for different purposes. For example smaller spearheads may have been thrown while larger ones may have been used as thrusting lance type weapons. Evidence suggests that they were mostly used in warfare and hunting. Some large decorative and barbed spearheads may have been used in ceremonies as they appear to be too large and valuable for fighting or hunting. Like many weapons, a spear may also be a symbol of power. In the Chinese martial arts community, the Chinese spear is popularly known as the "king of weapons".

The Celts would symbolically destroy a dead warrior's spear either to prevent its use by another or as a sacrificial offering.

In classical Greek mythology Zeus' bolts of lightning may be interpreted as a symbolic spear. Some would carry that interpretation to the spear that frequently is associated with Athena, interpreting her spear as a symbolic connection to some of Zeus' power beyond the Aegis once he rose to replacing other deities in the pantheon. Athena was depicted with a spear prior to that change in myths, however. Chiron's wedding-gift to Peleus when he married the nymph Thetis in classical Greek mythology, was an ashen spear as the nature of ashwood with its straight grain made it an ideal choice of wood for a spear.

The Romans and their early enemies would force prisoners to walk underneath a 'yoke of spears', which humiliated them. The yoke would consist of three spears, two upright with a third tied between them at a height which made the prisoners stoop. It has been surmised that this was because such a ritual involved the prisoners' warrior status being taken away. Alternatively, it has been suggested that the arrangement has a magical origin, a way to trap evil spirits.The word subjugate has its origins in this practice

In Norse Mythology, the God Odin's spear (named Gungnir) was made by the sons of Ivaldi. It had the special property that it never missed its mark. During the War with the Vanir, Odin symbolically threw Gungnir into the Vanir host. This practice of symbolically casting a spear into the enemy ranks at the start of a fight was sometimes used in historic clashes, to seek Odin's support in the coming battle. In Wagner's opera Siegfried, the haft of Gungnir is said to be from the "World-Tree" Yggdrasil.

Other spears of religious significance are the Holy Lance and the L?in of Celtchar, believed by some to have vast mystical powers.
Sir James George Frazer in The Golden Bough noted the phallic nature of the spear and suggested that in the Arthurian Legends the spear or lance functioned as a symbol of male fertility, paired with the Grail (as a symbol of female fertility). The picture in the gallery is of the Norse god Odin, carrying the spear Gungnir on his ride to Hel, note the thickness of the haft and the binding of the tang. The central rib has had an old repair on the blade. Blade 15.5 inches long [not including tang] Overall 75 inches long. For shipping outside of the UK the haft will have to be sectioned by us for transport, but can be easily re-assembled at its destination.  read more

Code: 22602

A, Stunning 19th Century Northern Nile Sudan Campaign Barbed Spear

14 inch iron head comprising of a 4 inch leaf shaped spear tip followed by 16 barbarous hooks. On a 51 inch haft over 64 inches long. Called at the time 'fishhook spears' a simply fearful looking piece brought back as a souvenir of the war in the Sudan campaign by a British officer serving in Abu Klea and 13 years later at Omdurman in the 2nd Dragoon Guards. Their was an article written by Winston Churchill, specifically mentioning them,- who was at the battle of Omdurman as a cavalryman - with reference to the 'fishhook spears' - and another about medical treatment after the battle, and how the doctors had difficulty removing the spears from wounded soldiers because of the wicked barbs on them.. Abu Klea: the quintessential Victorian colonial battle, fought by the lauded Camel Corps, and celebrated in Sir Henry Newbolt's poem Vitai Lampada.A bumping pitch and a blinding light,
An hour to play and the last man in.
And it's not for the sake of a ribboned coat,
Or the selfish hope of a season's fame,
But his captain's hand on his shoulder smote
'Play up! Play up! And play the game! '

The sand of the desert is sodden red,
Red with the wreck of a square that broke;
The Gatling's jammed and the Colonel dead,
And the regiment blind with dust and smoke.
The river of death has brimmed his banks,
And England's far, and Honour a name,
But the voice of a schoolboy rallies the ranks:
'Play up! Play up! And play the game! '

This is the word that year by year,
While in her place the school is set,
Every one of her sons must hear,
And none that hears it dare forget.
This they all with a joyful mind
Bear through life like a torch in flame,
And falling fling to the host behind
'Play up! Play up! And play the game!
..Photo in the gallery of the 21st Lancers at Omdurman and a Sudanese warrior of the time.  read more

Code: 20517

Royal Artillery Victorian Officer?s busby plume holder circa 1859-78.

a simply stunning example in superb condition. A very fine gilt example. Flaming grenade (straight flames), the ball mounted with Royal Arms with ?Ubique? scroll below; beneath the scroll, a gun with mounted wheel and scroll ?Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt?. Reverse retains plume holder and slider fitting. VGC  read more

Code: 20591

A Battle Worn Original Early 17th Century Italian Partizan Polearm Head

Steel three prong partizan decorated with birds on a floral background from the 1620's. Battle damaged and a fabulous artifact of 17th century warfare. With later haft [not shown] A partizan (also partisan) is a type of polearm that was used in Europe in the Middle Ages. It consisted of a spearhead mounted on a long shaft, usually wooden, with protrusions on the sides which aided in parrying sword thrusts. From the era of the Italian Wars of Castro. They were a series of conflicts during the mid-17th century revolving around the ancient city of Castro (located in present-day Lazio, Italy), which eventually resulted in the city's destruction on 2 September 1649. The conflict was a result of a power struggle between the papacy ? represented by members of two deeply entrenched Roman families and their popes, the Barberini and Pope Urban VIII and the Pamphili and Pope Innocent X ? and the Farnese dukes of Parma, who controlled Castro and its surrounding territories as the Duchy of Castro. We do have its polearm 70 inches long overall, 12.5 head incl. side straps  read more

Code: 20976

A Stunning Pair, 19th Century Nobleman's Cloak 'Lion Mask & Chain' Clasps

In original mercurial gilt pure gold finish. Superbly chiselled definition quality, and beautifully crafted. In excellent plus condition. Would look absolutely incredible applied as a chain button clasp for a ladies or gentleman's couture or bespoke jacket such as Chanel or Versace. Each mask bear two top and bottom stitching lugs. Lion masks 35mm high, 125mm total width when linked with chain fully extended. By family repute it was given by The Duke of Wellington to an aide, but there is no official confirmation to accompany it. It was suggested the Duke used it himself  read more

Code: 21010