TIFFANY 1860 STAFF AND FIELD SWORD CIRCA 1890

$950.00 SOLD

Quantity Available: None

Item Code: 870-405

This is a very nice Tiffany made officer’s sword. We still tend to call it the 1860 Staff and Field officer’s sword, though as Thillmann notes, the proper label should be the 1872 Staff and Line officer’s sword. The gilt brass hilt features the regulation lantern pommel with shield and eagle and sharkskin grip. The hilt retains lots of original gilt finish and the grip has narrow ferrules top and bottom cast with floral motifs, and good surface and texture, though lacking the wire binding. The knucklebow has cast and chased floral elements, scrolling at top and bottom along both branches, that anchoring the single obverse counterguard and, in the form of a leafy vine, along that forming the crossguard and quillon. The middle of the knucklebow shows a central flower petal with coiled thunderbolts, the upper one being rather squared off. The counterguard is cast and chased like the 1860 Staff sword, with an eagle superimposed on flags pointing out to left and right, and which does not have a U.S. shield on its chest. The hilt does away entirely with reverse counterguard and is plain on the reverse. There is lots of gilt finish remaining, just a little rubbing to the edge of the counterguard and lower reverse of the crossguard, both natural points of wear.

The blade is diamond shaped, with good edge and point, showing bright with just a few small gray spots above the etched panels. Both sides have panels densely etched with vivid floral, martial and patriotic motifs set off against a frosted background that has shifted toward gray. The obverse bears a “TIFFANY & Co. / NEW YORK” blade address in a symmetrical quasi-rococo cartouche at bottom, with symmetrical floral elements above and a trophy of arms consisting of sword, oval shield, Greco-Roman helmet, and flag, with an entwined “U.S.” overhead with sunburst rays top and bottom. The panel then extends with more floral elements, ending with an openwork spearpoint. The same dense etching fills the reverse with floral motifs and a stand of arms near the bottom that incorporates flags and pikes with an oval shield bearing stars and stripes.

The scabbard is blued, shading to plum, and fitted gilt brass mounts. The throat is narrow and screw-fastened. The solid ring bands are medium width, cast and chased with beaded edges and leaf and berry central panels extending all around. The drag is not ornamented, but is trefoil in outline with a beaded collar at top. The upper mount is fitted with two rings and the lower mount with one. The scabbard body has good color and shows just a little freckling at bottom. The gilt finish to the mounts is good, with some rubbing to the drag.

This is an elegant sword by Tiffany, not elaborately decorated in over-the-top style, but with tasteful restraint in very artistically rendered blade etching.  [sr] [ph:m]

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