Japanese at C&T
The Antiques Arms & Armour sale at C&T Auctions in April featured classic weaponry from all over the world. Let’s start with a pair of Daisho Japanese swords, comprising katana blade 54.6cm signed ‘Echigo No Kami Kanesada’. With gilt copper habaki, large mokko iron namban tsuba with gold nunome details, tape bound same tsuka with plain shibuichi fuchi kashira and shakudo menuki incorporating gilt baskets. In dark green and gold itame lacquered saya with shibuichi handachi mounts; wakizashi blade 47cm. They sold for £7,331.20 (includes Buyer’s Premium of 26.4%). A little cheaper was a Wakizashi Japanese sword, blade 50.4cm, bound same tsuka, shakudo fuchi kashira with gilt Chidori (mismatched), iron sukashi tsuba, in its black lacquered saya with leather combat cover. Good condition, the sword has been well refurbished. It sold for £834.24.
A nice looking 19th century Jambya Indian dagger next, probably Hyderabad, with broad curved tapered blade of conventional form with raised central rib, iron hilt and sheath mounts with gold and silver koftgari work involving flower heads and bands. Blade 20cm, overall 29.5cm. Good condition, some age wear, it sold for £707.84.
Here’s a strange looking weapon, a rare Indian five-barrelled matchlock rampart gun of ‘Duck’s Foot’ type. Intended to fire simultaneously, vents served by a communal iron channel, conventional iron trigger and match holder, the five barrels secured to the stock with two steel straps and mounted on a wooden stock painted red. It went for £960.64.
Anything Zulu related is always popular, and so that proved to be the case with this South African tribal Knobkerry, selling for double the estimate. Featuring a spherical head with brass nail head decoration. Overall 81cm, in fair condition, wood refinished. It made £189.60.
16th century Germany next, with a halberd with straight blade, pierced with five holes. The back spike deeply struck with maker’s mark of a shield containing crescent above an orb, long straps riveted to wooden haft. Good condition, with a little damage to top of socket on one side, top spike slightly bent. Head 50cm, overall 225cm. It made £707.84.
And finally, a British 1796 Pattern cavalry troopers sword. Featuring a curved, single edge regulation blade, cut with a single broad fuller, regulation iron guard, wooden grip, in its iron scabbard. The blade measured 83cm. Fair condition, it sold for £556.16.
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