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THBA Spectacularly Rare Gold and Enamel Royal Presentation Sword Given by H.R.H. The Prince Regent George Augustus Frederick to His Brother Adolphus Fred
About Seller
6270 Este Ave.
Cincinnati , OH 45232
United States
With offices in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Denver, Cowan’s holds over 40 auctions each year, with annual sales exceeding $16M. We reach buyers around the globe, and take pride in our reputation for integrity, customer service and great results. A full-service house, Cowan’s Auctions specializes in Am...Read more
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About Auction
LiveOct 30, 2018
Cowan's is honored to present the Magnificent Sword Collection of William Koch in its two-day firearms, militaria, and American history auction, with a focus on the Civil War. Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
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- Lot Description
A Spectacularly Rare Gold and Enamel Royal Presentation Sword Given by H.R.H. The Prince Regent George Augustus Frederick to His Brother Adolphus Frederick The Duke of Cambridge
31" double-edged false damascus blade with 6.5" fuller. 1" wide at ricasso, overall length 37". Solid gold hilt with snakeskin scabbard. Blade decorated on one side with fire blued and gilt designs, sprigs of foliage and panels throughout its length, the other with blued and gilt sprigs of foliage within a looped design. Hilt is superbly cast and chased on a finely stippled ground. The boat shell guard of solid gold decorated in high relief with foliage and the short straight quillions with laurel branches en suite with the knuckle-guard. The gold grip chased with rococo ornament and trophies of arms framing enamel plaques, one with the Prince of Wales' crest and motto, the other with monogram on a royal blue enamel ground. The pommel of gold is formed in the round as a fierce eagle head crowned with a kingly crown.
Scabbard mounted with superbly cast and chased fittings. The gold shape with a mustachioed head wearing a plumed helmet on each side and the gold suspension mount chased with nude wrestlers and victor’s laurels on one side, the other with bound captives and a trophy of arms. The locket is signed Rundell, Bridge, & Rundell, London 22 July 1816 with a trophy of arms on each side and an oval plaque with the presentation against a royal blue enamel ground. “ His Royal Highness George Augustus, Frederick Regent of. The United Kingdom. Of Great Britain. And Ireland to His Affectionate. Brother. The. Duke. Of Cambridge. 22. July. 1816 ." other side bears the full British Royal Arms in polychrome enamel against a royal blue ground. The suspension rings also of gold are formed as coiled serpents.
One of the, if not the, most spectacular solid gold 19th century swords ever offered at auction in America, this gift from the future King George IV to his brother the Duke of Cambridge in 1816 is of the very highest quality and in pristine condition throughout. With the exception of a very few virtually unnoticeable chips on the Prince of Wales plaque this supreme example of perhaps Britain’s greatest sword maker, Thomas Price, is virtually in the same condition as when the Prince Regent, the future George IV, presented it to his brother, the Duke of Cambridge in July of 1816. This magnificent work of art bears London gold marks and the mark of Thomas Price, a noted goldsmith and sword cutler who is known to have made " a number of important presentation swords " awarded during the Napoleonic War, nearly all of which were retailed by Rundell, Bridge & Rundell who held a royal warrant from George III.
It is truly an entire sword collection by itself and would be proudly displayed in any fine art museum in America. Combining as it does the pinnacle of the 19th century goldsmith’s art with unquestionable British royal historical significance, the Prince Regent’s gift represents a unique opportunity to acquire one of the very finest edged weapons extant.
George IV (1762-1830) known as George Augustus Frederick was King of Great Britain and Ireland and King of Hanover upon the death of his father, King George III, on January 29, 1820. From 1811 he acted as Prince Regent.
Of German lineage, Prince Adolphus Frederick, titled the Duke of Cambridge (1774-1850) from 1801, engaged in a long military career advancing to senior General-Major in the Electorate of Hanover during the convoluted 1790's Coalition Wars against the French and Prussians. In 1805 the Duke became colonel-in-chief of the elite Coldstream Foot Guards, a senior English regiment whose origins dated back to 1660. The date of the presentation - 22 July 1816 - coincided with the marriage of Princess Mary, the Duke's sister, to their cousin William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester. The Duke of Cambridge escorted the princess to the nuptials and honor of giving the bride away fell to the Prince Regent. The celebrated event occurred in the Grand Salon at the Queen's House and the elaborate ceremony is well documented in London papers of the period.
Provenance: Provenance: Adolphus Frederick (1774-1850) Viceroy of Hanover and Duke of Cambridge by descent William KochExcellent condition overall.Condition
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