A Very Fine, 17th Century, King 'William & Queen Mary' Period Hangar Sword Cutlass of Senior Naval Officer's Admirals and Captains of the Royal Navy. Also, Of Notorious Pirates 🏴‍☠️. Armourers Stamped Blade with Crescent Moon and Stars

The sword of choice for senior officer's {Admirals and Captain's} serving in the Royal Navy during the 17th and early 18th century. However, such swords were also the sword of choice of notorious 🏴‍☠️ pirates of the day. We show portraits in the gallery of British admirals of the age each bearing their same swords. Some with straight blades, others curved. This was purely a bespoke option for the original owner of the sword. Another painting in the gallery is of the infamous Blackbeard, Edward Teach notorious privateer. He is depicted using the exact same for of sword as this one.
Overall in superb condition for its age. The blade has just returned from artisan hand polishing and looks amazing. The blade is shown in the gallery pre-polishing, it is now beautifully bright.

Another very similar 'William and Mary period cutlass hangar was recovered {in a very poor state} from the wreck of notorious pirate, Captain Blackbeard's ship, the Queen Anne's Revenge, that was found at Beaufort inlet in 1996, the remains of the vessel have become the property of the people of North Carolina. And another 'William and Mary' period sword-cutlass is in a museum collection in Colonial Williamsburg in America.

William and Mary were the co-regnants over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, namely the Dutch Prince of Orange King William III (& II) and his spouse (and first cousin) Queen Mary II. Their joint reign began in February 1689 after they were offered the throne by the Convention Parliament irregularly summoned by William after his victorious invasion of England in November 1688, the so-called Glorious Revolution. They replaced James II (& VII), Mary's father, who fled the country. Parliament offered William and Mary a co-regency, at the couple's behest. After Mary died in 1694, William ruled alone until his death in 1702. William and Mary were childless and were ultimately succeeded by Mary's younger sister, Anne.
This was the most popular form of sword used by the early British Naval Commanders when at sea. There are numerous great portraits in the National Gallery, and at the National Maritime Museum, of 17th and 18th century Admirals adorned with identical swords. And infamous Pirate captains. Such as Admirals Benbow, Shovel et al. we show a portrait in our gallery, of Admiral Hopsonn,

Vice-Admiral John Benbow (10 March 1653 – 4 November 1702) was an English Royal Navy officer. He joined the Navy in 1678, seeing action against Barbary pirates before leaving to join the Merchant Navy in which Benbow served until the 1688 Glorious Revolution, whereupon he returned to the Royal Navy and was commissioned.

Benbow fought against the French Navy during the Nine Years' War, serving on and later commanding several English warships and taking part in the battles of Beachy Head and Barfleur and La Hogue in 1690 and 1692. He went on to achieve fame during his military accomplishments, which included fighting against Barbary pirates such as the Salé Rovers, besieging Saint-Malo and seeing action in the West Indies against the French during the War of the Spanish Succession.

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Cloudesley Shovell (c. November 1650 – 22 or 23 October 1707) was an English naval officer. As a junior officer he saw action at the Battle of Solebay and then at the Battle of Texel during the Third Anglo-Dutch War. As a captain he fought at the Battle of Bantry Bay during the Williamite War in Ireland.

As a flag officer Shovell commanded a division at the Battle of Barfleur during the Nine Years' War, and during the battle distinguished himself by being the first to break through the enemy's line. Along with Admiral Henry Killigrew and Admiral Ralph Delaval, Shovell was put in joint command of the fleet shortly afterwards.

During the War of the Spanish Succession, Shovell commanded a squadron which served under Admiral George Rooke at the capture of Gibraltar and the Battle of Málaga. Working in conjunction with a landing force under the Earl of Peterborough, his forces undertook the siege and capture of Barcelona. He was appointed commander-in-chief of the Navy while at Lisbon the following year. He also commanded the naval element of a combined attack on Toulon, base of the main French fleet, in coordination with the Austrian army under Prince Eugene of Savoy in the summer of 1707. Later that year, on the return voyage to England, Shovell and more than 1,400 others perished in a disastrous shipwreck off the Isles of Scilly.

Thomas Hopsonn enjoyed a naval command on 18 May 1688, when James II appointed him to the Bonaventure. This ship was part of the fleet sent to The Nore under Strickland to prevent the Dutch invasion. However, Hopsonn was one of the conspirators within the fleet who supported William of Orange in the Glorious Revolution.

Following the revolution, Hopsonn retained command of the Bonaventure and was part of the squadron that relieved the siege of Derry in June 1689. On 28 October 1689, he was posted to the York, and commanded that vessel during the battle of Beachy Head the following year. Hopsonn's immediate commander in the battle was Sir George Rooke, who formed a high opinion of his gallantry and was afterwards much associated with him. He commanded Royal Katherine for two months starting in August 1690, before moving to command the St Michael. It was aboard the latter that he followed Rooke in the battle of Barfleur on 19 May 1692. In the same year, he was promoted to become a captain in the foot guards on the recommendation of admiral Edward Russell.

Blackbeard or Edward Teach (c.1680-1718) is one of the most infamous pirates to have ever lived.
Known for his fearsome image and daring acts on land and sea throughout the West Indies and along the North American East coast, his legacy has been the inspiration for many depictions of pirates throughout history. In possibly his most brazen act, Teach used his flotilla to blockade the port of Charlestown in the province of South Carolina. Over the course of a week, nine vessels were stopped and plundered as they attempted to sail out of the harbour, where Teach's fleet was moored.
Teach informed some of his prisoners that his fleet required medical supplies from the colonial government of South Carolina and that if none were provided, all would be beheaded and their ships burned.
Two pirates and a prisoner were sent to the town but when they did not return he moved eight ships into the harbour, causing panic and looting within the town. Shortly after his supplies were delivered and the prisoners released, after reportedly being robbed of all worthy possessions.
This siege represents the height of Teach’s notoriety, not just as a skilled captain but a fierce leader who was not confined to the sea and would maraud where he pleased. Exploits such as these made Teach was one of the most commonly reported pirates in the news and in the print of his age.

28.5 inches long overall, 23.5 inch long blade, quillon and guard shell removed.

Every item is accompanied with our unique, Certificate of Authenticity. Of course any certificate of authenticity, given by even the best specialist dealers, in any field, all around the world, is simply a piece of paper,…however, ours is backed up with the fact we are the largest dealers of our kind in the world, with over 100 years and four generation’s of professional trading experience behind us  read more

Code: 25525

A Superb Nobukuni 信国 Signed Mount Fuji Shinto Samurai Katana, Circa 1670, Signed on The Nakago Nobukuni Saku, With Mount Fuji Hamon Fuji-mi Saigyo and The Wave Fuchi Kashira.

This fabulous and unique 360 year old sword, by a high rated master swordsmith. A most substantial and incredibly impressive sword in super condition, with likely the most desirable and rarest form of hamon pattern.

It has a most rare, superb hamon that shows an horizon combined with Mount Fuji hamon, called the Fuji-mi Saigyo, with the incredibly desirable hamon temper line that depicts separate various views of the horizon with the snow topped Mount Fuji. The original Edo period Fuchigashira hilt mounts are carved iron, Higo style engraved with the representation of the crashing wave pattern that traditionally accompanies Mount Fuji, as can be seen the the world famous painting by Hokusai, 'The Wave' with Mount Fuji in the background.

The pierced early Edo iron tsuba is further complimentary with pierced clouds. Fully restored blue silk tsukaito binding, and the whole of the swords mounts have been cleaned and conserved to as good as new, with gilt dragon menuki beneath the silk ito.

In the most ancient swords, all hamon were of the straight-edge variety. Irregular patterns started to emerge around the 1300s, with famous smiths such as Kunimitsu, Muramasa, and Masamune, among many others. By the 1600--1700s, hamons with various shapes in them became very desirable, such as trees, flowers, clovers, pillboxes, and many others. Common themes included juka choji (multiple, overlapping clovers), kikusui (chrysanthemums floating on a stream), Yoshino (cherry blossoms on the Yoshino River), or Tatsuta (maple leaves on the Tatsuta River), and one of the most desirable of all, just as this sword has, was the design Fujimi Saigyo (Priest Saigyo viewing Mount Fuji)

Mount Fuji is a composite volcano, capped with snow, growing larger as layer upon layer of lava and ash built up on its slopes. Like its geologic history, Mount Fuji’s sacred history has also developed over time as different religions, beliefs and myths have added new layers. Since ancient times, the mountains of Japan have been revered as sacred places, giving rise to a tradition of beliefs and rituals that scholars call sangaku shinko, meaning “mountain creed.” When Shinto, the native religion of Japan, emerged sometime before the sixth century A.D., it wove this mountain creed into a wider veneration of nature. According to Shinto belief, natural features such as trees, lakes, streams, rocks and mountains are the dwelling places of spirits called kami, which hold influence over human affairs and respond to human prayer and ritual. Kami are believed to be concentrated in mountain areas, and shrines have been erected to mark sacred spots. The introduction of Buddhism from China in the sixth century further developed the practice of mountain worship as Buddhists, who viewed mountain climbing as a metaphor for the spiritual ascent to enlightenment, adopted Shinto sacred mountains as pilgrimage destinations. In the ninth century, a religious sect called Shugendo arose that based its doctrine and practice on mountain climbing itself, believing that practitioners could commune with deities on mountain summits and thereby obtain supernatural powers.

The name “Fuji” most likely came from an indigenous Ainu word meaning “deity of fire”—not surprising for a volcano that erupted often. In about 800 A.D., a shrine was built near the base of the mountain with the hope of placating the god that caused the volcano’s eruptions. Fuji later became regarded as the dwelling of the Shinto goddess Konohana Sakuya Hime, “the Goddess of the Flowering Trees.” Today, she is still the principal deity of the sacred mountain, revered in Shinto shrines at Fuji’s base and summit, including the one originally built for the older fire god, and honored in a fire ceremony at the end of each year’s climbing season. Buddhists found in Fuji an inspiring symbol of meditation and called its summit zenjo, a Buddhist term describing a perfect meditative state. Buddhists also came to regard Fuji as the abode of the Buddha of All-Illuminating Wisdom. In the 14th century, Shugendo practitioners established the first climbing route to lead pilgrims to Fuji’s summit.

As once told to us by an esteemed regular visitor to us here in our gallery, and the same words that are repeated in his book;

“In these textures lies an extraordinary and unique feature of the sword - the steel itself possesses an intrinsic beauty. The Japanese sword has been appreciated as an art object since its perfection some time during the tenth century AD. Fine swords have been more highly prized than lands or riches, those of superior quality being handed down from generation to generation. In fact, many well-documented swords, whose blades are signed by their makers, survive from nearly a thousand years ago. Recognizable features of the blades of hundreds of schools of sword-making have been punctiliously recorded, and the study of the sword is a guide to the flow of Japanese history.”
Victor Harris
Curator, Assistant Keeper and then Keeper (1998-2003) of the Department of Japanese Antiquities at the British Museum. He studied from 1968-71 under Sato Kenzan, Tokyo National Museum and Society for the Preservation of Japanese Swords


A most substantial blade, in nice condition for its age {of around 360 years} 28.25 inches long, from tsuba to tip overall 41 inches long including saya.  read more

Code: 24955

A Wonderful Collection of Napoleonic War 'Grande Armee' Cuirassier & Officer's Pistols, & Cuirassier Dragoon Musket, Crimean War General's Sword, Waterloo Hussar's Sword. Antique 17th Lancers Helmet {Death} ‘Or Glory’ Arriving This Week

Plus, a Napoleonic Wars officers sword of a British Light Dragoon regiment, plus 19th century British swords, helmets and Japanese swords. Including, the sword of the Colonel of the 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards in the Crimean War, {see pictures 8 and 9} later Major General, {see portrait picture 6}.
We show a Portrait of Major Hodge of the 7th Light Dragoons with his same mameluke sword {see portrait picture 7} Before 1815, during the Napoleonic Wars and the Battle of Waterloo, the Mameluke-hilted sword was a fashionable, often personal, choice for British light cavalry officers (such as Hussars) and high-ranking staff officers, rather than a standard infantry rifle officer's weapon.
The style was adopted following campaigns in Egypt and India, influenced by Napoleon's Mameluke units and the personal preference of the Duke of Wellington

Also due in, a good and rare Victorian 17th Lancers Helmet { a tchapka lance cap } One of the great British cavalry regiments that took part in the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War.

“When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!”

These words were made famous by Alfred Lord Tennyson in his poem, ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’, and refer to that fateful day on 25th October 1854 when around six hundred men led by Lord Cardigan rode into the unknown.

The charge against Russian forces was part of the Battle of Balaclava, a conflict making up a much larger series of events known as the Crimean War. The order for the cavalry charge proved catastrophic for the British cavalrymen: a disastrous mistake riddled with misinformation and miscommunication. The calamitous charge was to be remembered for both its bravery and tragedy.

The Grande Armée was formed in 1804 from the L'Armée des côtes de l'Océan (Army of the Ocean Coasts), a force of over 100,000 men that Napoleon had assembled for the proposed invasion of Britain. Napoleon later deployed the army in Central Europe to eliminate the combined threat of Austria and Russia, which were part of the Third Coalition formed against France. Thereafter, the Grande Armée was the principal military force deployed in the campaigns of 1806/7, the French invasion of Spain, and 1809, where it earned its prestige, and in the conflicts of 1812, 1813–14, and 1815. In practice, however, the term Grande Armée is used in English to refer to all the multinational forces gathered by Napoleon in his campaigns.

Upon its formation, the Grande Armée consisted of six corps under the command of Napoleon's marshals and senior generals. When the Austrian and Russian armies began preparations to invade France in late 1805, the Grande Armée was quickly ordered across the Rhine into southern Germany, leading to Napoleon's victories at Ulm and Austerlitz. The French Army grew as Napoleon seized power across Europe, recruiting troops from occupied and allied nations; it reached its peak of one million men at the start of the Russian campaign in 1812,3 with the Grande Armée reaching its height of 413,000 French soldiers and over 600,000 men overall when including foreign recruits.4

In summer of 1812, the Grande Armée marched slowly east, and the Russians fell back with its approach. After the capture of Smolensk and victory at Borodino, the French reached Moscow on 14 September 1812. However, the army was already drastically reduced by skirmishes with the Russians, disease (principally typhus), desertion, heat, exhaustion, and long communication lines. The army spent a month in Moscow but was ultimately forced to march back westward. Cold, starvation, and disease, as well as constant harassment by Cossacks and Russian partisans, resulted in the Grande Armée's utter destruction as a fighting force. Only 120,000 men survived to leave Russia (excluding early deserters); of these, 50,000 were Austrians, Prussians, and other Germans, 20,000 were Poles, and just 35,000 were French. As many as 380,000 died in the campaign.

Did you know, we now have five times as many traffic wardens in the UK than combat ready soldiers { 82000 traffic wardens compared to 18000 ‘combat ready’ soldiers.} When Hitler invaded, and occupied Norway, it was achieved with just 10,000 troops and barely 1,500 falshirmjager took Oslo, the capitol city. But it is very comforting to know London is a ‘perfectly safe’ city, as quoted by the mayor, who, interestingly has 15 permanent, fully armed 24/7 bodyguards. Goodness knows how many he would need if it wasn’t safe ?

Before WW1 the British Army stood at 700,000 men in 1914, which increased in total in the armed forces to 8.7 Million, and alongside the French, The Canadians, Australians, and The Indians, {another 11 million } thus, with an allied armed forces total of around 20 million, it still took 4 years of bloody conflict to beat the Germans. This was when Britain’s population was around half what is is today.  read more

Code: 26183

A Beautiful, Edo, Higo School of Armour. A 17th Century Samurai's Tetsu Abumi Stirrup, Clan Mon of Bird & Sakura Equestrian Armour of ‘Mono no Aware’, 物の哀れ, Protective Armour & Weapon To Kick Out At Foot Samurai While Galloping In Battle

This Japanese higo school armour stirrup, with a clan crest (mon) of a bird in a cherry blossom treee (sakura) ‘mono no aware’ 物の哀れ in sinchu , is made in the traditional dove's breast (hato mune) shape with an open platform lined with red lacquer, slightly curved forward so that the foot fits in without sliding backwards. In the front extremity the stirrup has a rectangular buckle with several horizontal slots which also serve as a handle.

Not only a fine example of early original samurai equestrian combat armour, for protecting the foot of a mounted combat samurai in battle, it is also a weapon and a beautiful work of art. It also represents a most inexpensive collector's item of original samurai armour, combined as a weapon of combat and war, and around 400 years old.

The whole surface is in ancient russetted iron in the distinctive Higo school style, with a large onlaid most decorative sinchu clan mon crest mount of a bird with sakura tree, the ‘Mono no Aware’

Cultural context for this samurai crest. In Japan, this image represents the concept of mono no aware (the pathos of things). 物の哀れ —a poignant awareness of the impermanence of life, as both the cherry blossoms and the birds’ activity are intense but fleeting.

It is to be noted as we previously detailed, that these stirrups, due to their weight, were also used as weapons against the enemy infantry samurai and ashigaru. A kick from this by the mounted samurai when riding past a standing samurai at full gallop would smash through even the strongest iron helmet kabuto, resulting in likely instant death. The same effect as hitting any object with a 12 pound steel club hammer at full swing

Abumi, Japanese stirrups, were used in Japan as early as the 5th century, and were a necessary component along with the Japanese saddle (kura) for the use of horses in warfare. Abumi became the type of stirrup used by the samurai class of feudal Japan Early abumi were flat-bottomed rings of metal-covered wood, similar to European stirrups. The earliest known examples were excavated from tombs. Cup-shaped stirrups (tsubo abumi) that enclosed the front half of the rider's foot eventually replaced the earlier design.

During the Nara period, the base of the stirrup which supported the rider's sole was elongated past the toe cup. This half-tongued style of stirrup (hanshita abumi) remained in use until the late Heian period (794 to 1185) when a new stirrup was developed. The fukuro abumi or musashi abumi had a base that extended the full length of the rider's foot and the right and left sides of the toe cup were removed. The open sides were designed to prevent the rider from catching a foot in the stirrup and being dragged.

The military version of this open-sided stirrup, called the shitanaga abumi, was in use by the middle Heian period. It was thinner, had a deeper toe pocket and an even longer and flatter foot shelf. It is not known why the Japanese developed this unique style of stirrup, but this stirrup stayed in use until European style-stirrups were introduced in the late 19th century. The abumi has a distinctive swan-like shape, curved up and backward at the front so as to bring the loop for the leather strap over the instep and achieve a correct balance. Most of the surviving specimens from this period are made entirely of iron, inlaid with designs of silver or other materials, and covered with lacquer. In some cases, there is an iron rod from the loop to the footplate near the heel to prevent the foot from slipping out. The footplates are occasionally perforated to let out water when crossing rivers, and these types are called suiba abumi. There are also abumi with holes in the front forming sockets for a lance or banner. Seieibushi (Elite Samurai)
Traditionally the highest rank among the samurai, these are highly skilled fully-fledged samurai. Most samurai at the level of Seieibushi take on apprentices or Aonisaibushi-samurai as their disciples.

Kodenbushi (Legendary Samurai)
A highly coveted rank, and often seen as the highest attainable position, with the sole exception of the rank of Shogun. These are samurai of tremendous capability, and are regarded as being of Shogun-level. Kodenbushi are hired to accomplish some of the most dangerous international missions. Samurai of Kodenbushi rank are extremely rare, and there are no more than four in any given country.

Daimyo (Lords)
This title translates to 'Big Name' and is given to the heads of the clan.

Shogun (Military Dictator)
The apex of the samurai, the Shogun is the most prestigious rank possible for a samurai. Shoguns are the leaders of their given district, or country, and are regarded as the most powerful samurai.

Picture in the gallery of Samurai Wagakawa Kiyohide riding his black horse into battle wearing his identical black and brass mounted abumi horse armour stirrup.  read more

Code: 23147

A Good Imperial German WW1 Officer's Sword A Beautiful 1889 Pattern German Infantry Officer's Sword of The Great War. and Used into WW2 Until May 1945. Wonderful Condition For Age Kaiser Wilhelm's Crest Inset Within The Grip

1889 Pattern Prussian officers sword with cast eagle guard, excellent original multi wire bound grip, with kaisers crest insert, good condition double fullered bright polished blade and black lacquered steel combat scabbard. Kaiser Willhelm crest to grip. Folding spring loaded Prussian eagle guard. Used by a German infantry officer serving in the Great War, the Weimar period, and WW2. Taken as a WW2 souvenir in 1945.

Many of these swords were also used in the 3rd Reich by veteran officers serving in WW2. Numerous Vintage photographs of WW2 German Officers show them wearing this pattern of sword, including one in the gallery of Generalleutnant Hans von Donat with his identical sword.
The Imperial German Army (Deutsches Heer) entered the Great War in 1914 as the most professional and highly trained conscript force in the world. At its peak, it mobilised millions of men, evolving from a force designed for rapid, decisive offensives into a highly adaptable master of industrialised trench warfare.Organization and Early StrategyEstablished in 1871 after the unification of Germany, the army was a federal force dominated by Prussia, though the kingdoms of Bavaria, Saxony, and Württemberg maintained their own ministries and units.The General Staff: Unlike its rivals, Germany relied on a Great General Staff to institutionalise military excellence through academic training and strategic planning.The Schlieffen Plan: Strategy was initially dictated by the goal of avoiding a two-front war. The plan called for a massive, rapid right-wing sweep through neutral Belgium to knock France out of the war in weeks before turning to face Russia.Rapid Mobilisation: Upon the outbreak of war, the army expanded from roughly 700,000 peacetime troops to over 3.8 million men within a week.

As the war of movement stalled into trench warfare, the German Army became a leader in tactical innovation to overcome the deadlock.Stormtroopers (Stosstruppen): To break the stalemate, specialized shock units were trained in decentralized, aggressive "infiltration" tactics. These focused on bypassing enemy strongpoints to strike rear-area command and artillery.

By 1917, the army shifted from defending a single, rigid front line to a deep defensive system. This allowed attackers to penetrate forward zones only to be decimated by pre-planned counter-attacks and hidden machine-gun nests.

Tactics evolved to integrate infantry, heavy artillery (coordinated by masters like Georg Bruchmüller), aircraft, and early anti-tank measures into a single cohesive system

Despite nearly breaking the Allied lines during the 1918 Spring Offensive, the army ultimately succumbed to exhaustion, a lack of mobility to exploit breaches, and the overwhelming material superiority of the Allies.Dissolution: Under the Treaty of Versailles, the Imperial Army was abolished in 1919 and replaced by the Reichswehr, a professional force strictly limited to 100,000 men with no tanks, aircraft, or heavy artillery.The "Stab-in-the-Back" Myth: Following the surrender, a powerful myth grew that the army had remained undefeated on the battlefield but was betrayed by politicians, socialists, and revolutionaries at home—a narrative that later fueled the rise of the Nazi Party.

The great ‘Myth of German WW1 Reparations’ the financial penalty for losing WW1, that fuelled the rise of the National Socialists Workers Party { aka, the Nazis}.
Effectively, the German NAZI politicians blatantly lied that Germany was ruined financially by the allied powers taking all of Germany’s wealth. Can you imagine how shocking it must of been to discover their National Socialist Workers politicians actually lied in order to gain power, shocking indeed! Thank goodness that has never happened since.

Weimar and Nazi Germany in reality only paid just one eighth of the due ‘bill’ in reparations, but it received more, approximately 12 billion dollars more, in loans, from a group of New York American financiers, than it paid out. And, another surprise, the Nazis defaulted on those loans anyway, so the National Socialists kept all the {circa} 34 billion dollars in loan funds, that they then used to help pay for the next war, that Hitler planned all along. Bear in mind, in those days, a billion dollars was a lot of money.

Germany only actually paid approximately 20 billion to 21 billion gold marks (roughly $5 billion USD at the time) toward its World War I reparations before the debt was eventually settled or written off. While the original "bill" set by the Allies in 1921 was a staggering 132 billion gold marks ($33 billion USD), Germany actually paid only about one-eighth of that total.
The repayment process was ‘interrupted’ by the economic crises, the rise of the Nazi regime, and a second world war.
Between 1919–1932 Germany transferred between 19 billion and 21 billion gold marks in cash and "in-kind" payments, such as coal, timber, and livestock.
To make these payments however, Germany ‘borrowed’ roughly 33 billion to 35 billion marks from foreign investors (mostly American). This meant Germany actually received more in foreign loans than it paid out in reparations during the 1920s. A far, far greater sum than it had paid so far to the allies. However, In 1933, Adolf Hitler ceased all reparation payments and defaulted on the foreign loans used to fund them.

It is often reported that Germany "finished" paying for WWI on 3 October 2010. A considerable ‘bending’ of the truth. This final payment of $94 million (€69.9 million) was not for the reparations themselves, which had been cancelled in 1932 anyway. Instead, it settled the accrued interest on the private bonds and foreign loans Germany took out from the financiers in the 1920s to stay afloat.

Under the 1953 London Agreement, West Germany had agreed to pay these interest debts only after the country was reunified, which delayed the final instalment until the 20th anniversary of German reunification.

Light polished out surface pitting to the blade, good 95% original black lacquer paint to the steel, dent free scabbard  read more

Code: 26187

Openwork Iron Nanban Tsuba With A Pair of Dragons and Golden Nunome-Zogan Decor. A Most Fine Japanese 17th Century Sword Guard

Japanese sword hilt (tsuba) in cut iron and damascened with gold (nunome-zogan). The metal is finely carved with dragons chasing the sacred pearl in the Nanban style. The pearl is pierced and contains a small mobile ball which today comes out of its housing (see photos). Japanese work from the 17th century Edo period.

Nanban tsuba (Southern Barbarian sword guards) are 16th to 19th-century Japanese sword fittings characterized by foreign, non-traditional designs, primarily featuring intricate iron openwork (sukashi), beaded rims, and Chinese or European motifs. Originating from trade with foreign ships, these often-lavish guards were produced in China or by the Dutch East India Company and adapted for Japanese swords.
"Nanban" means "Southern Barbarian," a term used during the Edo period to describe foreigners—specifically Portuguese, Spanish, and Dutch traders—who arrived by sea.
While the name implies Western influence, most designs actually show strong Chinese influence.

They are usually made of iron, featuring complex openwork (carved in relief or pierced), undercutting, and often feature "small balls" trapped in small compartments that can move. Common motifs include dragons chasing flaming pearls, foreign letters (like "VOC" for the Dutch East India Company), and arabesque designs.
Initial pieces were likely imported from China or Southeast Asia through Nagasaki from the late 16th century onwards.
Japanese craftsmen began copying these styles. They often added specific features for Japanese swords, such as the hitsu-ana (holes for the utility knife/hairpin) and modifying the nakago-ana (tang hole).
The Yagami School: Based in Nagasaki, this school specialized in this style during the 18th century, famous for intricate ironwork featuring Chinese-style dragons and, notably, "1000 monkey" designs.
Although foreign-influenced, they were popular among samurai as fashionable, often heavily gilded or inlaid with gold/silver. They were sometimes used to subtly showcase hidden religious preferences (e.g., small crosses) during the prohibition of Christianity

Nanban-style carvers in Yamashiro (modern-day Kyoto) refers to 18th-century Japanese metalworkers, specifically tsuba (sword guard) makers, who adopted foreign design elements—primarily Chinese, but also Portuguese and Dutch influences—into their craft.

These artisans are known for producing Nanban Tsuba (Southern Barbarian sword guards), which often feature intricate, openwork (sukashi) designs, such as dragons, vines, and lion-like figures, usually on an iron ground.
They utilized gold or silver nunome-zōgan (inlay) to highlight designs, frequently carving on a cross-hatched background to create a textured, luxurious, or exotic look.
While Nanban-style items were often associated with Nagasaki, Kyoto-based makers (Yamashiro) were known for producing higher-quality, more sophisticated, and detailed versions, often with better-finished carvings.
Connection to Heianjo School: Some of these designs are categorized alongside Heianjo-style Tsuba, which were established in Yamashiro and known for combining iron with brass inlays.

These carvers operated during the Edo period (1603–1868), with peak production of these refined, domestically made Nanban pieces occurring around the 18th century.


Size 72x5mm Good condition.  read more

Code: 26169

A Most Rare Set Of 12 Original Photographs Of The General Nobile 1928 Polar Airship Expedition

Original Polar Expeditions collectables are most highly desirable and we have been delighted to acquire two such connected lots. These are 12 original photographic postcards, published at the time, by two publishers, Traldi and Ballerini & Fratini. For example one is entitled "La Spedizione Nobile - 11 - Esplorazioni di Alpini."
Ed. A. Traldi, Milan, n.d. c. 1928. and another "General Nobile to edge of Italy before leaving."
Umberto Nobile January 21, 1885 ? July 30, 1978) was an Italian aeronautical engineer and Arctic explorer. Nobile was a developer and promoter of semi-rigid airships during the Golden Age of Aviation between the two World Wars. He is primarily remembered for designing and piloting the airship Norge, which may have been the first aircraft to reach the North Pole, and which was indisputably the first to fly across the polar ice cap from Europe to America. Nobile also designed and flew the Italia, a second polar airship; this second expedition ended in a deadly crash and provoked an international rescue effort.The N-class airship Italia was slowly completed and equipped for Polar flight during 1927-28. Part of the difficulty was in raising private funding to cover the costs of the expedition, which finally was financed by the city of Milan; the Italian government limited its direct participation to providing the airship and sending the aging steamer Citt? di Milano as a support vessel to Svalbard, under the command of Giuseppe Romagna.

This time the airship used a German hangar at Stolp en route to Svalbard and the mast at Vads? (Northern Norway). On May 23, 1928, after an outstanding 69 hour long flight to the Siberian group of Arctic islands, the Italia commenced its flight to the North Pole with Nobile as both pilot and expedition leader. On May 24, the ship reached the Pole and had already turned back toward Svalbard when it ran into a storm. On May 25, the Italia crashed onto the pack ice less than 30 kilometres north of Nordaustlandet (Eastern part of Svalbard). Of the 16 men in the crew, ten were thrown onto the ice as the gondola was smashed; the remaining six crewmen were trapped in the buoyant superstructure as it ascended skyward due to loss of the gondola; the fate of the six men was never resolved. One of the ten men on the ice, Pomella, died from the impact; Nobile suffered a broken arm, broken leg, broken rib and head injury; Cecioni suffered two badly broken legs; Malmgren suffered a severe shoulder injury and suspected injury to a kidney; and Zappi had several broken ribs.

The crew managed to salvage several items from the crashed airship gondola, including a radio transceiver, a tent which they later painted red for maximum visibility, and, critically, packages of food and survival equipment which quick-witted engineer Ettore Arduino had managed to throw onto the ice before he and his five companions were carried off to their deaths by the wrecked but still airborne airship envelope and keel. As the days passed, the drifting sea ice took the survivors towards Foyn and Broch islands.

A few days after the crash the Swedish meteorologist Malmgren and Nobile's second and third in command Mariano and Zappi decided to leave the immobile group and march towards land. Malmgren, who was injured, weakened and reportedly still depressed over his meteorological advice that he felt contributed to the crash, asked his two Italian companions to continue without him. These two were picked up several weeks later by the Soviet icebreaker "Krasin". However there were persistent rumors that Malmgren was killed and cannibalized by Zappi and Mariano

They would look incredible suitably bespoke framed with UV protected glass  read more

Code: 18032

A Very Inexpensive Original Scarce English Transitional Revolver Circa 1840 By Cook of London

The stepping stone between the 1830's pepperbox revolver, and the later first double action revolver patented by London's Robert Adams in 1851. Some of the most ground breaking work in the early design and manufacture of revolvers was undertaken in England long before the world famous American revolver makers, such as Colt and Remington, became famous for their fine pistols. This most interesting piece is fully, and most finely engraved, on the frame and grip, with a highly detailed micro chequered walnut butt.

Good operating action, several areas of old surface pitting interspersed with areas of no pitting at all.
Trapdoor percussion cap container in the butt.
Made by one of England's 19th century makers and innovators of fine revolver pistols, of London. A classic example of one of the earliest English cylinder revolvers that was favoured by gentleman wishing to arm themselves with the latest technology and improvement ever designed by English master gunsmiths. They were most popular with officers that could afford them in the Crimean War and Indian Mutiny. A picture in the gallery is of Robert Adams himself, loading his patent revolver for HRH Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's Consort. He was also manager for the London Armoury and he made many of the 19,000 pistols that were bought by the Confederate States for the Civil War. The US government also bought Adams revolvers from the London Armoury, at $18 each, which was $4.00 more than it was paying Colt for his, and $6.00 more than Remington.The action on this beautiful gun is good very nice, and tight, but the surface has areas of old corrosion. As with all our antique guns no license is required as they are all unrestricted antique collectables  read more

Code: 22364

A Wonderful 18th Century French Small-Sword of Parcel Gilt and Blued Steel A Simply Stunning Museum Grade Piece. A Stunning Example of This French Master Craftsman’s Artistry and Skill in Service in The Royal Court of King Louis XVth

A sword that is certainly worthy of a finest collection of all forms of object d'art, antiquities, antiques and militaria.

Likely made at Versailles, at the royal workshops, by a royal swordsmith of King Louis XVIth, such as the master swordsmiths of the king, Lecourt, Liger or Guilman. A very finest grade sword of the form as was made for the king to present to favoured nobles and friends. He presented a similar sword to John Paul Jones see painting in the gallery now in the US Naval Academy Museum.

Three near identical swords to this now reside in the Metropolitan

A simply superb small-sword, with stunningly engraved chiselled steel hilt, overlaid with pure gold over a fish-roe background, decorated with hand chiselled scenes in the rococo Italianate renaissance style depicting various hunting scenes, of hunting hounds and game birds.
The multi wire spiral bound grip is finest silver, in with Turks head finials. The blade is in the typical trefoil form, ideal for the gentleman's art of duelling.

The degree of craftsmanship of this spectacular sword is simply astounding, worthy of significant admiration, it reveals an incredible attention to detail and the skill of it's execution is second to none.
Other similar swords are in also in the British Royal Collection and in Les Invalides in Paris. Trefoil bladed swords had a special popularity with the officers of the French and Indian War period. Even George Washington had a very fine one just as this example. For example of the workmanship in creating this sword for such as the King and Marie Antoinette we show the keys for the Louis XVI Secretary Desk (Circa 1783) made for Marie-Antoinette by Jean Henri Riesener, one of the worlds finest cabinetmakers, and whose works of furniture are the most valuable in the world.

The steel and gold metalwork key for Marie Antoinette's desk, is attributed to Pierre Gouthoire (1732-1813), the most famous Parisian bronzeworker of the late eighteenth century who became gilder to the king in 1767. This sword bears identical workmanship and style to that magnificent key. This is the quality of sword one might have expected find inscribed upon the blade 'Ex Dono Regis' given by the King.

Very good condition overall, with natural aged patination throughout.

The painting in the gallery is titled John Paul Jones and Louis XVI, by the American artist Jean Leon Gerome Ferris depicts John Paul Jones and Benjamin Franklin at the court of Louis XVIth and being presented a similar sword now in US Naval Academy Museum.
39.1/4 inches long overall.  read more

Code: 23138