271 |
A FINE PAIR OF ENGLISH SILVER-MOUNTED FLINTLOCK HOLSTER PISTOLS OF PRESENTATION QUALITY BY WILSON, MINORIES, LONDON, LONDON SILVER HALLMARKS FOR 1782, MAKER'S MARK OF MOSES BRENT with blued swamped barrels of so-called Spanish form, signed on a scroll over the breech and stamped with maker's, London view and proof makrs, engraved with trophies-of-arms, scrolls of foliage, a band of beadwork and chiselled with shaped recesses each filled with a fishroe ground (small losses, the bluing oxidised in places), gold-lined vents, engraved breech tangs formed with a sighting groove, rounded locks fitted with characteristic sliding safety-catch operating inside the lock beneath the pans, chiselled with with trophies and signed on a banner beneath the safety-catch, gold-lined semi-rainproof pans, chiselled with trophies-of-war on the cocks and cornucopia on the steels, highly figured walnut full stocks carved with shell ornament about the breech tangs (one fore-end cracked in the ramrod channel), profusely inlaid over their full length with silver scrolls, the fore-ends with slender panels filled with a wavy pattern of silver wire enriched with minute pellets, the butts inlaid with silver cornucopia, minute flowers and a posy of flowers at the base (very small losses, one stock with a small chip, each with very light bruising), full silver mounts cast and chased in low relief, comprising side-plates formed as a frieze of classical trophies incorporating fasces and armour, spurred pommels decorated with panoplies-of-arms centring on a field gun on each face, trigger-guards chased with further designs of trophies on the bows and the finials, vacant silver escutcheons en suite, a pair of silver ramrod-pipes, and one retaining its original silver-tipped baleen ramrod (one ramrod replaced, the silver mounts lightly rubbed in places) 40.5cm; 16in (2) Inv. nos. F007 & F008. William (1) Wilson was made free of the Gunmakers Company in 1754 and took livery in 1778. He became partner with his father, Richard (1), in 1756 and continued to use his mark after his death in 1766. £10000-12000 | Nil |
|
31000 |
| 272 | A VERY RARE PAIR OF SAXON AIR PISTOLS BY FUTTER À DRESSDE, CIRCA 1750 with tapering sighted barrels sheathed in brass and moulded at the muzzles, broad brass breech tangs of shaped outline engraved with flowers and foliage, signed stepped 'dummy' flintlock mechanisms engraved with scrolling foliage (defective), figured walnut full stocks carved with a flowerhead about the breech tangs and with raised mouldings about the mounts (the stocks with light bruising), brass mounts comprising engraved two-piece side-plates, short spurred pommels with screw-in caps covering the valves, moulded trigger-guards with slender baluster finials, and pair of ramrod-pipes, horn fore-end caps, and each with its steel ramrod 44.5cm; 17 1/2in (2) Inv. nos. F008 & F009. Barrel reservoir pistols with mock flintlock mechanisms are notably rare. Another pair are preserved in the Schwarzburg (inv. nos 1211-12)and are signed C. G. Pflug in Jena. See A. Hoff 1972, p. 40. Johann Joseph Futter is recorded in Dresden working for Johann Leopold Milotta in the second quarter of the 18th Century. He became Hofbüchsenmacher in 1754, worked in Warsaw 1759-63 and returned to Dresden in 1770. An air rifle and a combined flintlock and air gun by this maker are preserved in the former Electoral collections, inv. nos. 1840 s.3 and 1799 S.513. See D. Schaal 1975, pp. 124-129. £5000-7000 | Nil |
|
13000 |
| 273 | A FINE ENGLISH SILVER-MOUNTED FLINTLOCK SPORTING GUN BY GEORGE (2)JONES, LONDON SILVER HALLMARKS FOR 1755 with earlier Dutch two-stage swamped barrel fitted with silver fore-sight formed as a bearded grotesque, chiselled over the breech with a scrollwork panel enclosing a seated warrior, an elaborate grotesque mask, a walled city and differing cavalry scenes arranged vertically beneath a band of acanthus, engraved breech tang incorporating a moulded back-sight, signed stepped lock engraved with border ornament and with a spray of foliage on the tail, sliding bolt safety-catch, figured walnut full stock carved with with a scrolling shell about the breech tang (the butt with scratches and bruising), full rococo silver mounts cast and chased in low relief, comprising classical trophy-of-arms side-plate, trigger-guard engraved with a flower on the bow and with rococo finial, butt-plate chiselled and engraved with flowers and shell ornament, three moulded ramrod-pipes and vacant escutcheon incorporating an expanded flowerhead (later ramrod) Inv. no. F029. George Jones is recorded in St Martin's Lane, Long Acre circa 1734-50 and at Newport Street in 1756. He had unproved guns seized by the Gunmaker's Company, which might explain his choice of the barrel on this gun. £3000-3500 | Nil |
|
8000 |
| 274 | A .451/.483 CALIBRE WESTLEY RICHARDS PATENT BREECH LOADING 'MONKEY TAIL' WHITWORTH TARGET RIFLE BY WESTLEY RICHARDS 170 NEW BOND STREET, LONDON, BIRMINGHAM PROOF MARKS, NO. 9430, CIRCA 1870 with signed blued barrel matted towards the fore-sight and fitted with adjustable back-sight, scroll-engraved blued tip-up breech, signed scroll-engraved bolted lock, highly figured walnut full stock with raised cheek-piece, chequered grip and fore-end, engraved steel mounts comprising trigger-guard decorated with a tiger on the bow and with pineapple finial, butt-plate with trap, three ramrod-pipes, and a pair of sling swivels,vacant silver escutcheon, horn-tipped fore-end cap, brass-tipped ebony ramrod (tip missing), and with traces of original finish 91.2cm; 36in barrel Inv. no. F030. £1200-1500 | Nil |
|
1200 |
| 275 | A FLINTLOCK BLUNDERBUSS BY TWIGG, LONDON, CIRCA 1780 with three-stage brass barrel swelling towards the muzzle, inscribed 'London' and with a simple flower over the breech, fitted with top-mounted spring bayonet released by a catch on the breech tang (the bayonet now detached, the hinge screw and lower portion chipped), stepped lock signed in script (the upper portion of the cock missing), figured walnut full stock (chipped and repaired), brass mounts including engraved solid side-plate, trigger-guard engraved with a rococo flower and with acorn finial, butt-plate formed en suite and with pronounced heel, and vacant oval escutcheon (ramrod missing) 77cm; 30 1/4in Inv. no. F082. £1000-1500 | Nil |
|
1100 |
| 276 | A FLINTLOCK SEA SERVICE MUSKETOON BY BROOKS, CIRCA 1790 with 59cm; 23 1/4in steel barrel flared at the muzzle and struck with view, proof and Ordnance marks, signed border-engraved lock engraved 'Tower' and with Ordnance mark (rubbed), figured walnut full stock (cracked around one barrel pin), the butt with flat-topped comb, brass mounts of regulation type comprising trigger-guard, side-plate, butt-plate and ramrod-pipe, and contemporary brass-tipped wooden ramrod (the tip missing) 99.5cm; 39 1/8in Inv. no. F085. See H.L. Blackmore 1961, p.99. SEE FOOTNOTE TO PREVIUOS LOT OR NOTSEE FOOTNOTE TO PREVIUOS LOT OR NOTSEE FOOTNOTE TO PREVIUOS LOT OR NOT SEE FOOTNOTE TO PREVIUOS LOT OR NOT SEE FOOTNOTE TO PREVIUOS LOT OR NOT ######################## £2000-2400 | Nil |
|
4000 |
| 277 | A FLINTLOCK SEA SERVICE MUSKETOON BY BROOKS, CIRCA 1790 with 61.5cm; 24 1/4in steel barrel flared at the muzzle and struck with a series of marks including view, proof and Ordnance marks, signed border-engraved lock with Ordnance mark (mainspring removed), figured walnut full stock (fore-end repaired), the butt with flat-topped comb, brass mounts of regulation type comprising trigger-guard, side-plate, butt-plate and ramrod-pipe, and contemporary brass-tipped wooden ramrod 102.8cm; 40 1/2in Inv. no. F087. See H.L. Blackmore 1961, p.99. £2000-2400 | Nil |
|
2800 |
| 278 | A FLINTLOCK SEA SERVICE MUSKETOON BY BROOKS, CIRCA 1790 with 58cm; 22 7/8in steel barrel flared at the muzzle and struck with view, proof and Ordnance marks, signed border-engraved lock engraved 'Tower' and with Ordnance mark (rubbed, the lower portion only of the steel remaining), figured walnut full stock, the butt with flat-topped comb, brass mounts of regulation type comprising trigger-guard, side-plate, butt-plate and ramrod-pipe, and contemporary brass-tipped wooden ramrod (the tip missing) 99cm; 39in Inv. no. F084. See H.L. Blackmore 1961, p.99. £1800-2200 | Nil |
|
4000 |
| 279 | A .650 CALIBRE VOLUNTEER FLINTLOCK MUSKET BY DURS EGG, TOWER PRIVATE PROOF MARKS, LATE 18TH CENTURY based on the India pattern musket, with tapering barrel sight removed) incised with the number '12' over the, rounded lock of regulation type, figured walnut full stock impressed with a series of initials in the ramrod channel, regulation brass mounts including trigger-guard, butt-plate numbered en suite with the breech, and three ramrod-pipes, a single rear sling swivel (the forward swing swivel missing), and original steel ramrod with matching number 94cm; 37in barrel Inv.no.F038. £1800-2200 | Nil |
|
1500 |
| 280 | A .650 CALIBRE VOLUNTEER FLINTLOCK MUSKET BY DURS EGG, TOWER PRIVATE PROOF MARKS, LATE 18TH CENTURY based on the India pattern musket, with tapering barrel (fore-sight removed) incised with the number '4' over the breech, signed rounded lock of regulation type, figured walnut full stock impressed with a series of initials in the ramrod channel, regulation brass mounts including trigger-guard, butt-plate numbered en suite with the breech, and three ramrod-pipes, a single forward sling swivel (the rear swing swivel missing), and original steel ramrod with matching number 94.5cm; 37 1/4in barrel Inv. no. F037. £1800-2200 | Nil |
|
2400 |
| 281 | A .750 CALIBRE INDIA PATTERN FLINTLOCK MUSKET, DATED 1786 of regulation specifications, the barrel struck with view, proof and ordnance marks at the breech, the lock engraved with crowned GR and 'Tower', figured walnut full stock impressed with further marks including the date (partly obscured), and the Ordnance storekeeper's mark, regulation brass mounts, and steel ramrod 99cm; 39in barrel Inv.no.F053. £1500-2000 | Nil |
|
3000 |
| 282 | A .750 CALIBRE INDIA PATTERN FLINTLOCK MUSKET, DATED 1786 of regulation specifications, the barrel struck with view, proof and ordnance marks at the breech, the lock engraved with crowned GR and 'Tower', figured walnut full stock impressed with further marks including the date (partly obscured), the Ordnance storekeeper's mark, and the maker's name 'Gill', regulation brass mounts, and steel ramrod 99.7cm; 39 1/4in barrel Inv. no. F054. £1500-2000 | Nil |
|
3000 |
| 283 | A RARE EUROPEAN MAIL CAPE OR PISAIN, PROBABLY GERMAN, LATE 15TH OR EARLY 16TH CENTURY composed entirely of riveted iron rings of half-round wire, those at the neck and at the base of the throat smaller in size than the rest and forming a stiff upstanding collar or standard, well-shaped to the shoulders, extending downwards to obtusely-pointed lower edges at the front and the rear of the waist and formed with a central opening at the rear (heavily patinated throughout with several small holes and some fusing of links at the neck) PROVENANCE Baron Armand van Zeulen (1838-96), sold Sotheby's, London, 1st April 1980, lot 81. Mail capes such as this, referred to by modern collectors as 'bishops' mantles', were known at the time of their use as 'pisains'. The relatively large rings of the present example indicate a date in the late 15th or early 16th century. Two similar examples are in the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds, Inv. Nos. III. 13 & 14, in one case fitted with a Nuremberg-inscibed brass ring. Others of an early fashion were formerly in the collections of Sir Guy Laking and Felix Joubert. See G. F. Laking, Vol. II, 1920, figs 530-1). £8000-12000 | Nil |
|
8000 |
| 284 | A COMPOSITE GERMAN THREE-QUARTER FIELD ARMOUR, MID- TO LATE 16TH CENTURY, THE BREASTPLATE STRUCK WITH THE MARK OF PAUL MEITINGER OF INNSBRUCK comprising burgonet formed of a one-piece skull rising to a high roped medial comb, projecting forward to a short obtusely-pointed peak struck at its front edge with the ownership mark of the Austrian Landesfürstliches Zeughaus, fitted at its rear with an obtusely-pointed one-piece neck-guard (right articulating rivet loose), and at each side with a hinged cheek-piece (distal end of hinge replaced) flanged outwards at its lower edge to serve as a continuation of the neck-guard, pierced at its centre with seven small circular ventilation-holes arranged in rosette formation and fitted at its front edge with a buff leather loop (replaced) to receive a tie, 'almain' collar of three lames front and rear, the lowest front one struck with the same ownership mark as the burgonet, giving issue at either side to an integral spaudler of six downward-overlapping lames, breastplate of late 'peascod' form struck at the centre of its shallow neck-opening with the maker's initials P M (the first initial partly worn) of Paul Meitinger of Innsbruck and fitted at its arm-openings with moveable gussets, and at its outward-flanged lower edge with a fauld of two lames, the lowest cut with a shallow arch over the crotch and bearing a pair of detachable tassets (not a pair) each of seven lames, extending to just above the knees, one-piece backplate shaped to the shoulders and flanged outwards at its lower edge to receive a culet of one lame, vambraces (not a pair) each formed of a tubular upper and lower cannon (the inner plate of the right lower cannon corroded at its front edge) articulated to one another by a winged couter of three lames, the main edges of the armour decorated with roped inward turns, those of the vambraces accompanied by recessed borders on a ground originally black from the hammer (the armour showing some pitting and wear overall), stand not included The records show Paul Meitinger, the maker of the breastplate, to have been active in Innsbruck in the period 1544-80. In 1554-8 he was employed by the Imperial Zeughaus to make infantry armours. Further contracts were obtained by him in 1562-5, 1573 and 1576. He also made armours for the Jesuits of Halle in 1580. Further breastplates and backplates bearing his mark are to be found in the Hofjagd- und Rüstkammer, Vienna, Inv.Nos A 403 & 407, the collections of Schloss Ambrass, near Innsbruck, Inv. Nos WA 223 & 331, and the Museo Stibbert, Florence, Inv. No. 2367. See B. Thomas & O. Gamber 1954, pp. 87 & 105, pl. 83). £12000-15000 | Nil |
|
12000 |
| 285 | A COMPOSITE GERMAN 'BLACK AND WHITE' THREE-QUARTER FIELD ARMOUR (HARNASCH), MID- TO LATE 16TH CENTURY, THE CUIRASS NORTH GERMAN, PROBABLY BRUNSWICK comprising burgonet formed of a one-piece skull rising to a exceptionally high roped medial comb, projecting forward to an obtusely-pointed peak, pierced around the brow, face-opening and nape with pairs of lace-holes, fitted at the nape with a plume-holder (replaced) and an obtusely-pointed neck-guard of one lame, and at each side with a pair of forward-projecting cheek-pieces (associated), pierced at their centres in each case with five small circular ventilation-holes, and fitted at their front edges with buff leather loops (replaced) to receive a tie, 'almain' collar of three lames front and rear fitted at either side with a pair of integral spaudlers each formed of seven downward-overlapping lames extending downwards to the elbow where it is connected by internal leathers through a shell-like one-piece couter to a tubular lower cannon, besagues (restored) each rising at its centre to a conical boss, breastplate formed of a heavy main plate with a strong medial ridge projecting forward over the belly , its upper border struck with a serial number formed of ten dots, moveable gussets at its arm-openings and a fauld of one lames fitted within its lower edge with a pair of tassets of each of seven lames extending to just above the knees, one-piece backplate strongly shaped to the shoulders, its upper border struck with a serial number formed of five dots, and fitted with a culet of one lame, and mitten gauntlets each formed of a slightly rounded and flared tubular cuff , four metacarpal-plates, a knuckle-plate decorated with a boldly roped transverse rib, five finger-plates and scaled thumb-defence, the main edges of the armour decorated with roped inward turns, its surfaces decorated with bright bands and borders (lightly patinated and worn), variously raised or recessed against a blackened ground (refreshed), the subsidiary edges of the burgonet decorated with scalloped edges £12000-18000 | Nil |
|
15000 |
| 286 | A RARE SOUTH GERMAN CLOSE HELMET FOR THE TOURNEY, IN THE MANNER OF WOLFGANG GROSSCHEDEL OF LANDSHUT, CIRCA 1550-5 of notable weight, formed of a rounded skull rising to a high roped medial comb (bruised and cracked towards the rear), pierced at the rear of the neck with four small rivet-holes for the attachment of a missing plume-holder and to either side of it with four lace-holes, two of those at the right retaining their brass eyelets, visor, upper bevor and bevor attached by later common pivots with large domed heads, the visor with a prominent step beneath its single broad vision-slit and a spring-catch at the right side operated by a later lifting-peg with baluster-shaped terminal, prow-shaped upper bevor pierced at its left side with twenty small circular ventilation holes arranged in four rows and at the right side with eight diagonal ventilation-slots, each expanded at its centre, the right side further pierced with a threaded hole for the attachment of a reinforce and fitted with a sliding spring-catch, the bevor (with riveted patch at right of face-opening) pierced at each side of the neck with seven circular ventilation-holes in rosette formation, the central one of the right group occupied by the brass-capped pivot of a sturdy forked visor-prop, the right of the neck further fitted with a brass swivel-hook to secure the push-button operated spring-catch issuing forward from the skull, the lower edges of the skull flanged outwards to receive missing gorget-plates, the front and left of the helmet showing numerous cuts from a rebated sword (pitted overall) 34.2cm; 131/2in high The helmet compares closely in both form and detail with the contemporary products of the Landshut school of armourers, in many cases marked by or documented as the work of Wolfgang Grosschedel, recorded 1517-62, and his son Franz Grosschedel, recorded 1555-78 (A. Von Reitzenstein 1954, pp. 142-53). Analogous helmets of the school can be recorded in the Hofjagd- und Rüstkammer, Vienna, the Real Armeria, Madrid, the Musée de l'Armée, Paris, the Musée Royale de l'Armée, Brussels, the Wallace Collection, London, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and the Stadt- und Kreismuseum, Landshut (G. Spitzelberger 1975, pls 25, 31-2, 34-5, 38-9, 41& 47-52; J. Mann 1960, pls IV & VI; and A. V. B. Norman 1986, pl 214). Like the helmet under discussion, they are pieced at either side of their bevors with circular groups of ventilation-holes. £12000-18000 | Nil |
|
18000 |
| 287 | THE SKULL AND NECK-GUARD OF A GERMAN FLUTED CLOSE HELMET, CIRCA 1520 the rounded one-piece skull rising to a low boldly-roped medial comb, pierced at each side with a pivot-hole for the attachment of a missing visor and bevor, fitted at the right of the neck with a spring-catch for the bevor (lacking push-button), and flanged outwards at the nape for the attachment of a broad neck-defence of three downward-overlapping lames, the centre of the skull and neck-defence decorated with continuous flutes emphasised by pairs of incised lines, the lower edges of the skull and first two lames of the neck-guard each decorated with pairs of scored lines, and the main edge of the neck-guard decorated with a file-roped inward turn accompanied by a recessed border (lightly patinated overall) 30.5cm; 12in high £4000-5000 | Nil |
|
7000 |
| 288 | A NORTH EUROPEAN CLOSE HELMET, CIRCA 1540, POSSIBLY LOW GERMAN formed of a rounded one-piece skull rising to a low medial comb decorated along its crest with a pair of incised lines (small cracks to the rear), visor and bevor attached by common pivots with low domed heads decorated with cross-hatching, prominent 'sparrow's-beak' visor strongly stepped beneath a centrally-divided vision-slit and pierced above the mid-line to either side of the "beak" with a row of five circular ventilation-holes, and a row of three diagonal ventilation-slots on the right below the mid-line, moulded baluster lifting-peg (later), the bevor strongly shaped to the chin and secured to the skull at the right of the neck by a spring-catch with a cross-hatched release-button, and a single gorget-plate front and rear, each with plain inward turn at the lower edge (cleaned overall, areas of pitting, the flanged lower edge of the skull pierced at the centre with a later suspension-hole) 31cm; 121/4 high A very similar helmet is preserved in the Wallace Collection, London, Cat. No. A167 (James G. Mann, Wallace Collection Catalogues: European Arms and Armour, Vol. I, London, 1962, p. 137, pl. 69; and A. V. B. Norman, Wallace Collection Catalogues: European Arms and Armour, Supplement, p. 62). It has no lining-rivets in the bevor, in common with the present example. £7000-9000 | Nil |
|
9500 |
| 289 | A SKULL OF A CLOSE HELMET, PROBABLY ITALIAN, CIRCA 1520 formed in one piece with a globose crown cut at the front with a broad face-opening, pierced at each side with a large hole for a visor-pivot, flanged outwards at its lower edge for the attachment of rear gorget-plates and embossed in high relief at the rear with a large scallop incised with close-set longitudinal lines, the surface retaining much of its original black-from-the hammer finish (some corrosion, wear and minor denting overall); fitted with A BEVOR OF A CLOSE HELMET, PROBABLY ITALIAN THIRD QUARTER OF THE 16TH CENTURY, with deep U-shaped face-opening, pair of pivot-holes and outward-flanged lower edge, the former decorated around its margin with a raised rib accompanied by a recessed border, the upper edges and centre of the chin decorated with pairs of incised lines, in the latter case enclosing cabling, the surface retaining traces of a black-from-the- hammer finish (pitted and worn overall, some later holes at each side of chin and neck-flange) the first: 23.5cm; 91/4 in high Two close helmets in the Museo Stibbert, Florence, Inv. Nos 2801 & 2804, have similar skulls to the first (L. G. Boccia 1975, Cat. Nos 39 & 43, pls 42-3), as do two more in the Musée de l'Armée, Paris, Inv. No. H. 107. A further example can be recorded in the Museo Civico L. Marzoli, Brescia, Inv. No. 319 (F. Rossi & N. Di Carpegna 1969, Cat. No. 94, ill.). £4000-6000 | Nil |
|
4000 |
| 290 | A RARE FRENCH CLOSE HELMET FOR FIELD USE WITH ETCHED AND GILT DECORATION, CIRCA 1570 formed of a rounded skull constructed in two pieces joined medially along the apex of a high roped comb and fitted at the nape with a later plume-holder of brass occupied by black ostrich feathers, visor, upper bevor and bevor attached by common pivots (replaced), the forward-sloping visor stepped and roped beneath its broad single vision-slit and fitted at its right side with a lifting-peg (replaced), the strongly prow-shaped upper bevor roped at its upper edge, pierced at its right side with eight circular ventilation-holes in rosette formation and secured to the bevor at the same side by a swivel-hook (perhaps replaced), the lower edges of the skull and bevor flanged outwards for the attachment of gorget-plates of which only the uppermost front one is preserved, the sides of the comb etched and gilt on a hatched ground with alternating foliate scrolls inhabited by winged herms (the upper edge of the visor and the flanged lower edges of the skull and bevor showing some losses and patched repairs, the surface of the helmet showing much pitting and wear) 30cm; 11 3/4in high The helmet closely resembles in both form and construction those belonging to a series of French royal armours made circa 1555-80 (Jean-Pierre Reverseau, Les Armures des Rois de France au Museé de l'Armée, Saint-Julien-du-Sault 1982, pp. 54-63, 68-7 & 72-9; Jean-Pierre Reverseau, Les Armes et La Vie, Chennevières-sur-Marne 1982, pp. 146-7). These include the finely etched and gilt armours G. 119, G. 120 & G. 121 in the Museé de l'Armée, Paris. The decoration of the comb of G. 120, made for Charles IX in the period 1564-74, is particularly close to that of the helmet described here. £6000-7000 | Nil |
|
7000 |
| 291 | A SOUTH GERMAN BURGONET, NUREMBERG, CIRCA 1570-80 formed of a one-piece skull rising to a high roped medial comb, projecting forward to an acutely-pointed peak struck at its front edge with a maker's mark consisting of an escutcheon enclosing a pair of indistinct initials (FC?) over a star and the quality-control mark of the city of Nuremberg, fitted at the nape with a slender plume-holder and obtusely-pointed one-piece neck-guard and at each side with a hinged cheek-piece shaped at its upper front corner to fit over the side of the peak, flanged outwards at its lower edge to serve as a continuation of the neck-guard and pierced at its centre, within a central boss, with ten small circular ventilation-holes arranged in rosette formation, the main edges of the burgonet decorated, except at the front of the cheek-pieces, with roped inward turns, its surfaces decorated overall, on a formerly black-from-the-hammer ground (now bright), with variously raised and recessed bands and borders in the "black and white fashion" (showing overall wear and minor cracks and bruises) 32.4cm; 123/4 in high Many similar Nuremberg burgonets are preserved in the Steiermärkisches Landeszeughaus in Graz (Peter Krenn 1987, pp.28-9). £3000-3500 | Nil |
|
3800 |
| 292 | AN ITALIAN 'SAVOYARD' HELMET, EARLY 17TH CENTURY with two-piece skull joined by a low comb, fitted with pivoting peak drawn-down in the centre, fitted with a U-shaped face defence pierced with shaped apertures for the eyes and a small opening for the mouth (the right hand arm replaced), lower bevor fitted with a hook on the right for securing the face-defence, and with a single gorget plate at the front (the rear plates replaced, fitted at the base with a pierced modern plate, repatinated throughout) 24cm; 9 1/2in high £2000-2500 | Nil |
|
3500 |
| 293 | A GERMAN BURGONET, LATE 16TH CENTURY with two-piece skull joined at a low comb, outwardly flanged at the front to a pointed peak and embossed on each side with a large fleur-de-lys, fitted with later pointed neck-defence, later hinged cheek-pieces and later plume-holder, decorated throughout with recessed borders and later black painted finish (restorations and repairs) 26.5cm; 10 1/2in high £500-700 | Nil |
|
1100 |
| 294 | A NORTH EUROPEAN BURGONET, POSSIBLY GERMAN, EARLY 17TH CENTURY formed of a rounded two-piece skull joined medially along the apex of its high roped comb, projecting forward to an acutely-pointed peak, flanged outwards at the nape to receive an obtusely-pointed one-piece neck-guard and cut out at each side to receive a missing cheek-piece, now represented only by the proximal ends of its hinge, the main edges decorated with plain inward turns accompanied, in the case of the neck-guard, by a recessed border, (heavily corroded overall with significant losses at the centre and right of the peak, the apex of the comb and the right of the neck-guard, and some deformation throughout) £400-500 | Nil |
|
350 |
| 295 | AN ETCHED GERMAN COMB-MORION, NUREMBERG, CIRCA 1580 formed in one piece with a hemispherical crown rising to a high roped medial comb, and an integral brim turned down at each side, rising to an obtuse point at the front and rear (the front one slightly bruised), decorated around its edge with a file-roped inward turn, the front struck with the quality-control mark of the city of Nuremberg (the rear and sides each pierced with later wiring-holes), the base of the crown encircled by twelve round-headed lining-rivets with rosette-washers of iron (one washer missing), finely etched on each side of the crown with a circular cartouche enclosing, on the right, a representation of the Sacrifice of Isaac, and on the left, a mounted huntsman carrying a spear, in each case overlaying a pattern of alternating vertical bands respectively comprised of arabesque interlace and scrolling foliage inhabited by birds of prey, the latter design repeated on the comb and the brim and involving in the case of the former, oval cartouches enclosing, on the right, a soldier holding a banner, and on the left, a drummer, each in contemporary dress, the etching executed throughout on a blackened and stippled ground (light wear and patination overall) 29.1cm; 11 1/2in high The decoration of the helmet anticipates that found on a distinctive group of Nuremburg morions of the early 17th century formerly preserved in the armoury of the Dukes of Saxe-Coburg in the Wartburg, Thuringia. The scrolling foliage and birds are similar in execution to those found on a series of morions of about 1570 made for the Schurff family, hereditary huntsmen of the Tyrol, examples of which are to be found in the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds, and the Musée de l'Armée, Paris. See J-P. Reverseau 1982, p. 50, fig. 2. A morion of similar form decorated with arabesque interlace is preserved in the Historisches Museum, Dresden (Schöbel 1976, fig. 40) £4000-5000 | Nil |
|
3800 |
| 296 | AN ITALIAN COMB-MORION, CIRCA 1580 formed in one piece with a rounded crown rising to a high roped medial comb decorated to either side of its apex and base with incised lines, and an integral brim turned down at each side and rising to an acute point at the front and the rear (the front point bruised), its edge decorated with a file-roped inward turn bordered by a narrow groove, the base of the crown pieced at the nape with a pair of holes for the attachment of a plume-holder (missing) and encircled by six (originally fourteen) lining-rivets with brass rosette-washers, retaining its original blued finish overall The morion is one of a series offered for sale between the World Wars by W. H. Fenton & Sons of 11 New Oxford Street, London. An undated circular of Fenton (photographic copy held in Royal Armouries Library, Leeds) illustrates a morion almost identical to that offered here. Fenton was selling the morions by at least 1933. According to a later verbal report of his armourer, Theodore Egli, they had been obtained in Ireland. Examples are now to be seen in the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds, Inv.No. IV. 449 (A. R. Dufty & W. Reid European Armour in the Tower of London, London, 1968, pl. CII.c), the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, Acc. Nos Hen. M. 32, 33 & 34-1933 (Ian Eaves, Catalogue of European Armour at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Woodbridge, Suffolk, & Rochester, N.Y., 2002, pp. 153-5, ill.), and the Glasgow Museum and Art Gallery. The group also included "Spanish" morions, examples of which are once again to be seen in the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds and the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (Eaves, op. cit., pp. 161-2). £2500-3000 | Nil |
|
2800 |
| 297 | A SOUTH GERMAN BURGONET, AUGSBURG, CIRCA 1600 formed of a rounded one-piece skull rising to a high medial comb, projecting forward to an obtusely-pointed peak struck at its point with the quality-control mark of the city of Augsburg and an indistinct maker's mark incorporating the letter 'M', flanged outwards at the nape to receive an obtusely-pointed one-piece neck-guard and fitted at each side with a hinged cheek-piece pierced at its centre with five circular ventilation-holes and flanged outwards at its lower edge to serve as a continuation of the neck-guard, the main edges of the helmet turned inwards, its surface retaining much of a black from the hammer finish (the skull showing surface delamination of its metal, the right centre of the peak cracked, the hinge for the left cheek-piece replaced) £1200-1400 | Nil |
|
1700 |
| 298 | A GERMAN COMB-MORION, EARLY 17TH CENTURY formed in two halves with a rounded skull rising to a high medial comb fitted at its nape with a plume-holder (probably later), and an integral brim turned down at each side, rising to an acute point at the front and rear (that at the front slightly bruised), and decorated around its edge with a plain inward turn, the crown encircled at its base by twelve round-headed lining-rivets with rosette-washers of brass (five missing), retaining fragments of a buff-leather lining-band, and embossed at each side with two concentric circles, the inner one enclosing a hexafoil, the outer one formed at its inner edge as a running wave-pattern, originally coloured black and white but later blackened overall (the surface showing some oxidation and wear) £1000-1400 | Nil |
|
1400 |
| 299 | A GERMAN COMB-MORION, EARLY 17TH CENTURY formed in two halves with a rounded skull rising to a high medial comb fitted at its nape with a later plume-holder, and an integral brim turned down at each side, rising to an acute point at the front and rear , and decorated around its edge with a plain inward turn (small split and minor bruising), the crown encircled at its base by twelve round-headed lining-rivets with rosette-washers of brass (two missing), retaining a buff-leather lining-band, and embossed at each side with two concentric circles, the inner one enclosing a hexafoil, the outer one formed at its inner edge as a running wave-pattern, originally coloured black and white but later blackened overall (the surface showing some oxidation and wear) £1000-1400 | Nil |
|
1200 |
| 300 | A RARE ZISCHÄGGE, MID-17TH CENTURY formed of a one-piece hemispherical skull decorated with a pattern of radiating flutes of shallow V-section bisected by raised ribs, fitted at its apex with a moulded gilt brass finial riveted through two large superimposed circular washers, the lower one of iron, and the slightly smaller upper one of gilt brass with decoratively cut edge, at it brow with a flat obtusely-pointed peak, at its nape with a similarly-pointed flaring neck-guard of four lames, at each side with a pendent cheek-piece narrowing to its lower end and pierced at its upper end with seven circular ventilation-holes, and above its left cheek-piece with a gilt plume-holder, the peak pierced at its rear with a rectangular hole to accommodate a sliding nasal-bar with leaf shaped upper end and outward-angled lower end (right corner chipped) secured at the brow by a rectangular staple and locking-screw, the former gilt, the main edges of the helmet decorated with plain turns and ribs accompanied on the peak and neck-guard by narrow grooves, the surface of the helmet blackened overall, the large round heads of its rivets capped with gilt brass, its interior fitted throughout with an early lining of buff leather, that within the skull quilted with tow, the lower ends of the cheek-pieces fitted with the remains of velvet tie-loops (the lining with small holes and tears) £2000-2500 | Nil |
|
4000 |
