Auctions Imperial 2017 May Arms & Armor
Lot 411:
Description
The work of a master, the hilt and mounts wrought entirely of gilded silver, superbly embossed and engraved in motifs distinctly Greek, depicting Classical referents within a Revolutionary context designed to convey a visual narrative to a specific audience, i.e. co-combatants and/ or political allies of the Revolution: Classical-era helmets with characteristic horsehair crests, the dory spears and recurved bows with quivers of arrows described by Homer, both European drums and captured Ottoman drums, small cannon evoking those used at Patras under Karatzas in March, 1821, striped banners such as those which first appeared in Epidarus in 1822, together with well-detailed, clearly distinguishable Ottoman sabers, axes and war hammers, amongst festoons of flowers signifying victory, all framed in the rococo borders characteristic of Greek Neoclassicism. The exceptional drawing, balance and expert use of negative space, together with the high level of jeweler’s skills, far exceed the best Ottoman and European work of the period. The well-wrought, captured Albanian blade with intricately nielloed and gilded bolsters and tangband, and struck with a maker’s mark and elaborately engraved with a short text panel and date, 1207 (1792/3 c.e.) In its leather-covered scabbard with silver seam, gilded silver mounts en suite with the hilt. First quarter of the 19th century. Overall length 70.5 cm. Condition II
Share this lot:
