1392
Highly Embellished Henry Wilkinson Made British Foot Officer's Sword, with Chiseled Silver Finished
Currency:USD
Category:Firearms & Military
Start Price:7,000.00 USD
Estimated At:14,000.00 - 22,500.00 USD
SOLD
12,000.00USD+ buyer's premium + applicable fees & taxes.
This item SOLD at 2012 Sep 08 @ 13:24UTC-5 : EST/CDT
Did you win this lot?
A full invoice should be emailed to the winner by the auctioneer within a day or two.
Estimate: $14000 - 22500
Born in 1849, Edric Frederick Gifford with the grandson of Robert, 1st Baron Gifford, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and Master of the Rolls. Entering military service with the 83rd Regiment of Foot (County of Dublin), Gifford later joined the 24th Regiment of Foot (aka the South Wales Borderers) as a Lieutenant for the First Ashanti Expedition, part of the Anglo-Ashanti Wars which took place in and around the territory of the Gold Coast Colony, serving as a Special Service Officer training and leading teams of native fighters. Lord Gifford's service as a highly capable reconnaissance officer was noted in his Victoria Cross Citation, in particular his actions in the taking of Becquah (modern day Bekwai), in which he and his unit were the first to breech the town's defenses in advance of the main unit. Following the Ashanti Expedition, Lord Gifford served as Aide-de-Camp to General Garnet Woolseley during the Anglo-Zulu War, and finished his career as a brevet Major. After leaving the service, Lord Gifford served as Colonial Secretary to Western Australia from 1880 to 1883, Colonial Secretary to Gibraltar from 1883 to 1887, and made a director of the British South Africa Company in 1889. Upon his death in 1911, the title of Baron Gifford passed to his younger brother, and remains active today. The sword measures 38 inches in overall length, with a lightly curved 32 inch single fuller blade, numbered "18847" on the spine, with the etched "HENRY/WILKINSON/PALL MALL/LONDON" address on the left ricasso, gilt brass "HW" proof seal on the right, and scroll decorated panels up each side, featuring scroll designs and a Queen Victoria cipher on the left. The right side bears the inscription "LIEUTENANT EDRIC FREDERICK LORD GIFFORD 24TH REGIMENT OF FOOT/26th FEBRUARY 1873 WISHING HIM GOD SPEED, FROM HIS FRIENDS IN THE 83rd./NON SINE NUMINE", the final Latin line translating to "not without divine favor". The hilt hardware is silver finished, with attractive raised scrollwork on the 3-branch guard, featuring a cut-through Victoria cipher in a wreath, additional scrollwork running down to the pommel, a woven gold wire sword knot hung from a piercing in the guard, and a multiple strands of twisted silver wire around the ivory grip, which is carved with raised scroll designs to compliment those on the hilt. The metal sheath also bears a silver finish, with near full coverage engraving, showing vine patterns along the suspension bands and down the front and back, scroll accents, and a series of floral patterns on the drag and down the sides, set into an interwoven geometric pattern.
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Condition: Extremely fair, showing minimal handling marks and a few small dark spots on the blade, with a deep patina having formed on the hilt. A small amount of fraying is visible on the sword knot and grip wire, with a few tiny age cracks at the base of the grip. The ivory has taken on an attractive grain and color, with streaks of tan running through the overall cream color. On the sheath, a 1 1/2 inch section of engraving has been polished off just below the first suspension band, otherwise a deep antique patina has formed overall with mild high edge wear and scattered handling marks and dents, especially near the suspension ring. A highly attractive example of the English sword maker's art, with fantastic historical associations.
More Information
Auction Location:
7819 42nd St West, Rock Island, Illinois, 61201, United States
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
20.5% |
Additional Fees:
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3/14/2012 8:56:55 AM