The steely strength of the Antique Arms & Armour market at Bonhams was in evidence again this week with a sale just short of £1m in which 91 per cent of items sold in strong bidding.
The sale at Bonhams Knightsbridge offered a mix of armour, swords, rifles, pistols, cannons, powder horns, helmets, with much of the work hugely decorative and inlaid with silver, gold and brass, illustrating 500 years of the gun-makers art.
David Williams, the Director of Antique Arms and Armour at Bonhams, said: “This was a very healthy sale with some outstanding prices achieved for the top lots. The sale provided a snapshot of the weapon-makers art. Gentlemen would give a great deal of thought to the decoration of their guns and swords.”
From Indian Maharajahs to the royal families of Europe it was a case of luxury reflecting their status using ivory, gems, gold, silver, mother of pearl, and fine woods, all drafted in to serve the greater glory of the ruler as evidenced in his weapon of choice.
There was nothing discrete about some gun decoration at this Bonhams sale. A wonderful over the top tour de force was evident in Lot 306, a fine 17th Century 60-bore Silesian wheel lock Tschinke rifle with an octagonal barrel, once the property of their Serene Highnesses the Prince zu Salm-Reifferschiedt-Dyck. It featured brass engraving and some gilding of scrolls, birds, flowers and foliage. It had been estimated to sell for £10,000 to £14,000 but was the top lot in the sale at a staggering £22,500.
Another highly decorative item was Lot 334, a rare pair of 20 bore South American silver mounted belt pistols from the late 18th century, probably Mexican. They featured rambling silver foliage and the word ‘Ambrosi’ engraved on the breach and the stocks. They achieved a price of £15,000.
Lot 55, a rare broad curved blade late 17th century Turkish Karabella sword and scabbard made £15,000. This too featured some fine chased flowing floral designs on both hilt and scabbard.
In stark contrast to this rampant decoration was lot 173, an unadorned knightly sword from the Castillion Group of early 15th century swords in excavated condition with some hard wear evident on the blade edges. This formidable 600-year-old weapon achieved the very strong price of £15,000.
David Williams, commenting after the sale said: “Results like these and a near sell-out are the best argument for bringing your arms and armour to us for a valuation and to consign for our next sale which takes place on November 25th, Guy Fawkes Day. There is also a Sporting Gun sale on December 2nd.”