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THBThe Splendid And Historic Gold And Enamel Hilted British Napoleonic Period Presentation Saber Of The Intrepid Coghlan Dated 1800
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
The Splendid And Historic Gold And Enamel Hilted British Napoleonic Period Presentation Saber Of The Intrepid Coghlan Dated 1800
30" curved blue and gilt blade. The gold and enamel hilted sword presented by Admiral The Earl St. Vincent to the ‘Intrepid Coughlan’, acting lieutenant of H.M.S. Viper is without question the most beautiful solid gold hilted British saber from the Age of Fighting Sail ever offered at public sale in America. Made by Robert Makepeace, goldsmith, 6 Searle Street, London and so signed on the 18 carat gold locket together with John Ray and James Montague whose mark is struck on the hilt, the Intrepid Coughlan’s sword is an artistic masterpiece personally presented to him by one of England’s greatest admirals and heroes, Sir John Jervis, Lord and later Earl St. Vincent, second in Napoleonic renown only to the immortal Horatio Nelson. Robert Makepeace and James Moriset are the goldsmith’s responsible for the very first of the magnificent City of London, gold, enamel, and jeweled presentation swords which was given by the City to Lord St. Vincent, now on exhibit at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. Admiral St. Vincent knew Robert Makepeace to be a goldsmith of the highest stature before he commissioned him together with the equally brilliant John Ray and James Montague to make this magnificent saber. Ray and Montague were the goldsmiths who made the gold hilted court sword for Prince William Frederick also from the Koch Collection.
The 18-karat gold hilt of stirrup form is cast and exquisitely chased struck on the inside of the knucklebow with John Ray and James Montague’s touch mark and London hallmark for 1800-1801. The grip is of highly burnished gold cast and chased at the base with naval trophies of arms. The sides of the grip are set with fabulous multicolored enamel plaques, the right depicting Hercules 12th labor wherein the hero leads Hades' three-headed dog Cerburus from Hell and the left panel depicts the Intrepid Coughlan, himself, in his acting-lieutenant’s uniform, leaning against a classic column receiving a laurel crown from a flying Victory, as a naval engagement takes place in the background. These plaques surrounded by gold chased frames of relief chased laurels are of the highest quality and represent the enameler’s art at its most sublime. Each panel is a miniature painting executed by a master artist. The knucklebow and quillon are cast and chased with acanthus and laurels. The knucklebone widens to frame yet another superb enamel oval of translucent blue and the legend: “ CERBERE 29, July 1800. ” The quoin widens to frame a highly burnished gold plate inscribed with the presentation inscription: “ A Tribute of Friendship from ADMIRAL, the EARL of ST. VINCENT TO THE INTREPID COUGHLAN ."
Jeremiah Coughlan’s heroism was characteristic of sailors in the British Navy during the Napoleonic Ways. Under the command of Captain Sir Edward Pellew, the inspiration for the character of Jack Aubrey in the film, Master and Commander, as acting lieutenant of His Majesty’s Cutter Viper, Jeremiah Coughlan, in his own words, “ I have succeeded in bringing out the Gun Brig Le Cerbere, of Three Guns (24 pounders) and Four Six Pounders, and 87 men, commanded by a Lieutenant de Vaisseah .”
This remarkable feat attracted considerable attention at the time. So incredible was Coughlan’s courage and coolness under fire during the capture of the Cerbere by a mere cutter, that fired by such an incredible exploit, Admiral Lord St. Vincent wrote to Sir Edward Pellew:
“ Dear Sir,
I am quite transported by the noble exploit performed by your friend Coghlan…I desire that you will acquaint Mr. Coughlan, that I have directed Mr Makepeace, an eminent goldsmith, in Searle Street, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London to prepare a sword of 100 guineas value, which I beg of you to present to this gallant seaman, in the most appropriate manner.
Yours most truly, St. Vincent ”
Coughlan rose through the ranks of the British Navy to become captain and was further honored by being awarded the Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Bath. Upon his death on the 4th of March 1844 an account of his funeral in the Hampshire Telegraph and Sussex Chronicle states: “On the coffin were placed the Union Jack, the cocked hat of the deceased, and a splendid sword, of 100 guineas value, bearing the inscription ‘Admiral Earl St. Vincent to the Intrepid Coughlan’.”
Only one other similar gold sword is known. The gold sword presented to the Intrepid Coughlan is both a magnificent work of art and a fabulous relic of the days when Britannia ruled the waves. The artistic excellence of its enamel and gold work, equal to the objects of Peter Carl Faberge, together with its historical value and significance render it the most important British sword ever offered for auction in America. Whether acquired by an art collector, sword aficionado, or yachtsman, Captain Coughlan’s sword will retain its attraction indefinitely.
Provenance: From the Sword Collection of William KochThe broad curved 30-inch long saber blade is brightly burnished for its entire lower half. Retainng nearly all of the fire blue finish and gilt. The upper half is elaborately fire blued and bright gilded with the British Royal Arms of 1714 to 1801, a trophy of arms, the figure of Britannia, and the crowned Royal Cipher ‘GR’. The polished black shagreen covered scabbard with chape, locket, and suspension mount of 18-carat gold each struck with Standard mark for 18-carat gold. The mounts are polished, cast, and chased in relief with bands and borders of laurel leaves. The chape with cast and chased acanthus leaves and the locket signed “Makepeace, London”. The sword and scabbard in excellent condition throughout and the blade with nearly all its bright gilding and fire bluing.Condition
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