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An American silver-hilted eagle pommel sabre carried by Major John Griffith Johnston at Fort McHenry, John Lynch, Baltimore, circa 1810
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 USD
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Description
- bone, metal, wood
- Hilt: 5 1/8 in.; Blade: 30 ¼ in. Width: 1 1/4 in.; Overall: 35 ½ in.
Spanish blade, engraved NO . ME . SAQUES . SIN . RAZON . / NO . ME . ENEBAINES . SIN . HONOR; silver knuckle-bow swelling to pierced guard in the Baltimore style, hallmarked on inside center-point of bow J LYNCH and engraved with the monogram JGJ on outward side above guard; silver eagle-head pommel, beautifully executed in the Philadelphia fashion, surmounts a bone grip turned with shallow spiral-groove into which is set a binding of twisted silver-wire
Provenance
The Johnston Family by descent, then to
Kendrick Scofield's father
The Kendrick Scofield Collection, No. 6
Acquired by Dr. John K. Lattimer from John Scofield, January,1965
(Lattimer, No. 206)
Kendrick Scofield's father
The Kendrick Scofield Collection, No. 6
Acquired by Dr. John K. Lattimer from John Scofield, January,1965
(Lattimer, No. 206)
Exhibited
Corcoran Gallery of Art, The Sword in America, 1000 – 1954, 9 October-19 December 1954
Detroit Institute of Arts, The Sword in America, 1000 – 1954, 9 January-13 February 1955
Maryland Historical Society, Silver in Maryland, 7 October 1983 – 29 February 1984. No. 216
Detroit Institute of Arts, The Sword in America, 1000 – 1954, 9 January-13 February 1955
Maryland Historical Society, Silver in Maryland, 7 October 1983 – 29 February 1984. No. 216
Literature
Peterson, Harold L. American Silver Mounted Swords 1700 – 1815, catalogue of the silver-hilted swords from the Corcoran Gallery exhibition of 1954, No. 56
Hartzler, p. 211, No. 347
Museum and Library of the Maryland Historical Society (Goldsborough, Jennifer Faulds, ed.) Silver in Maryland, No. 216
Hartzler, p. 211, No. 347
Museum and Library of the Maryland Historical Society (Goldsborough, Jennifer Faulds, ed.) Silver in Maryland, No. 216
Condition
good
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
Catalogue Note
Major Johnston served in the First Regiment of Artillery in the Maryland Militia and defended Baltimore Harbor while stationed at Fort McHenry during the British naval bombardment 12-13 September 1814, the engagement that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner.