HORSTMANN EAGLE POMMEL SWORD CA. 1850

HORSTMANN EAGLE POMMEL SWORD CA. 1850

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$250.00 ON HOLD

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 1266-140

This brass hilted sword measures 32” overall and has a 27” blade. It has an eagle-head pommel and a distinctly semicircular knucklebow cast and chased with feathers along the sides, transitioning into a narrow counterguard and terminating in a scrolling quillon curling forward. The grip is reeded white bone, cylindrical in cross-section, with a slight swell at the middle and fitted with a wide ferrule next to the guard with incised border lines at top and bottom. The blade is straight, spadroon in form, having a short ricasso, but with the fuller starting somewhat above that leaving a flat section at the base of the blade just above the ricasso on either side. The back of the blade is flat as it follows the fuller, which ends a bit more than half way to the point, with the blade becoming double edged from there on and ending in a spearpoint tip.

The spine is etched in a leafy vine. Both sides of the blade are etched with fanshell or sunburst motif on the blade flat above the ricasso and in the base of the fuller, with the remainder of the fuller showing foliate scrolls and floral motifs. Just above the fanshell in the fuller on the obverse is etched “W. H. H. & S.” (William H. Horstmann & Sons) in a curving foliate cartouche and on the reverse, “Philadelphia” in script.

The blade is somewhat Germanic in form, which is not surprising since Horstmann imported their sword blades from there. The company had existed for some time and we refer those interested in its history to Bazelon’s books on military goods dealers and his book on Horstmann in particular. As one of their company names, “William H. Horstmann and Sons” first appears about 1843 with “Horstmann Brothers & Co.” being added in 1859, with the two firms existing side by side at the same address in Philadelphia. The intent seems to have been for Horstmann, Brothers & Co. to handle the military business and WHH&S the trimmings and upholstery side of the business, but the sudden surge in the military line because of the war apparently put this distinction on hold, with Bazelon noting that during the Civil War their military goods are often marked WHH&S, as here, and it was only in 1864 that they tried to effect the distinction in the businesses, which continued to co-existed until 1894. The WHH&S blade etching thus gives a likely 1850s date to the sword, though they clearly remained in inventory and available for sale for some time. We show an image from the 1877 Horstmann Brothers and Company catalog, showing this sword or one very close to it in style listed as #401 and described as a  “Brass Mounted Cadet,” which is likely the previous designation and intended clientele as well.

The sword is in very good condition overall. There is no scabbard. The detail of the cast and chased brass hilt is good. Any gilt wash is gone, but the brass has an undisturbed mellow, not dark, patina. The bone grip has no chips, cracks or dark stains. The blade etching is light, but fully visible. The edge and point are very good. [sr] [ph:L]

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