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An American silver-hilted lion pommel short-sword carried by Major Frazee Ayers, Christian Wiltberger, Philadelphia, circa 1800-1810
Estimate
8,000 - 12,000 USD
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Description
- marked inside center-point of knuckle-bow C.Wiltberger in a contour-shaped cartouche
- Cow Bone, Metal,
- Hilt: 6 in.; Blade: 26 ½ in., Width: 1 ¼ in.; Overall: 32 ½ in.
Single-edge blade engraved WM. TESCHE. PETERS. SOHN. IN. SOLIGEN. FECIT along spine, decorated on each side with trophies-of-arms, scrolls, and American Eagles with Thirteen Stars; chamfered silver knuckle-bow, beautifully executed silver lion-head pommel surmounting an unusual aqua-marine colored bone grip, the grip set into a decorative ferrule at its base and bound with two silver-wires twisted individually in alternating left and right-hand directions, and collectively binding the grip in a right-hand spiral.
Provenance
Major Frazee Ayers, to Ellis Ayers, his son,
to Simeon Ayers, his son,
to S. Hanford Ayers, his son,
to Katherine Ayers Read, his daughter,
to Richard L. Marquette to Dr. Lattimer
(Lattimer, No. 434)
to Simeon Ayers, his son,
to S. Hanford Ayers, his son,
to Katherine Ayers Read, his daughter,
to Richard L. Marquette to Dr. Lattimer
(Lattimer, No. 434)
Literature
Hartzler, pp. 2 and 17, No. 24
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
This sword was carried by Major Frazee Ayers, who served in the New Jersey Line during the War of 1812. Ayers was the son of Ellis Ayers and his wife Catharine Pitney.
Its maker, the silversmith Christian Wiltberger, was apprenticed to fellow Philadelphian sword-maker Richard Humphreys. Wiltberger's son, also Christian Wiltberger, was a member of the American Colonization Society that founded the state of Liberia in 1847.
The Tesche family were prominent blade-smiths of Solingen, active from about 1518 to about 1700 (Gardiner, p. 203). Wilhelm Tesche, son of Peter of Solingen is listed in Hamburg from 1778 – 1801.