Maritiem Digitaal
collectie zoeksyteem van de maritieme musea
geen titel
| titel | geen titel
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| inventarisnummer | WPN1095
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| collectie | Edged Weapons
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| museum | National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
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| datum | 1827
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| omschrijving | Solid half-basket hilted sword- which belonged to Admiral William Sidney Smith (1799-1892). The hilt of the sword consists of a gilt solid half-basket guard- which has been cast in one piece. The guard has raised bars and a crown and anchor badge. The sword has a lion's-head pommel and back piece- the mane extending one-third of the length of the back-piece. The white fish-skin grip is bound with three gilt wires. There is a small eye at the base of the grip to accommodate a sword knot.
The curved steel blade has a round back and a double-edged spear point. The obverse of the blade is engraved at the shoulder with the words 'PROSSER Maker to the KING & H.R.H. LORD HIGH ADMIRAL. LONDON.'. Engraved above the words is the Royal arms contained within an oval shield along with mottoes. The reverse of the blade is engraved on the shoulder with the word 'Warranted' above this is a crown and a foul anchor motif. The black leather scabbard has two gilt lockets and rings and a gilt chape. There is a broad hook on the obverse of the top locket- complete with a ring- which was added at a later date. The chape is ornamented with fluted threads and scrolls. Portions of the belt slings complete with buckles are attached to the locket rings. The obverse of the top locket bears the words 'PROSSER Manufacturer to His Majesty and H.R.H. the Duke of Clarence- LONDON'. The top locket was originally of the 1827 pattern- but in 1833- when a waist belt was substituted for the shoulder belt- a ring was added at the back edge- and also a second locket and ring. The chape- which must have originally been of the 1827 pattern- was replaced with one of the 1833 style- with fluted threads and scrolls. The hilt and the blade are of the Admiralty regulation pattern of 1827. The inscriptions on the blade and the top locket confirm the date of manufacture as 1827- because the Duke of Clarence only held that title for the year 1827-1828. In the next year- he became King William IV.
The sword has been in the possession of the Smith Family since it was passed down from Admiral William Sidney Smith (1799-1892)- who was the nephew of Admiral Sir William Sidney Smith (1764-1840) who is remembered today for his successful defence of St Jean d'Acre on the Syrian coast against Napoleon from March to May 1799. Admiral William Sidney Smith probably purchased the sword in 1830- on his promotion to the rank of Commander- and he did not trouble to have the lockets on the scabbard altered when he became a Flag Officer on the Retired list. Admiral William Sidney Smith entered the Royal Navy as a Midshipman on the 21st November 1813 and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on the 25th April 1823. He became a Commander on the 23rd July 1830- a Captain on the 10th January 1837- a Rear-Admiral (ret'd) on the 22nd August 1857- a Vice-Admiral on the 11th January 1864- an Admiral on the 3rd July 1869 and he died in 1892. His great grand descendants- Captain S.R. Adams and Mrs Ernest A. Griffin- presented the sword to the National Maritime Museum in June 1952.
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| afmetingen | Overall: 95 x 920 x 120 mm; Blade: 762 x 35 mm
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