art-of-swords:Basket-hilted Broadsword (Claidheamh mor)Dated: 1650-1727Culture: ScottishMedium: silv
art-of-swords:Basket-hilted Broadsword (Claidheamh mor)Dated: 1650-1727Culture: ScottishMedium: silver, steel, silver wire, leather, skin, textilesTechniques: chased, metal decoration, cast, engraved (incised), struck, linedMeasurements: overall length 100.2cm, blade length 85.0 cmProvenance: the broad main knuckle-guard is engraved with the following: “Given by the Duke of Gordon and Winn at Huntly Castle the /second Thursday of Septr 1727 years all Horses not exceeding 13 hands/ and 2 inches high are admitted to runn and the winning Horse to be sold/ - “for ane Hundred merks if required by the Judge of the Race. the/ Riders staiking Crouns a piece which are given to the Poor to/ pray that the Monarchy and Royal Family may be lasting and/ Glorious in these Kingdoms”The sword has a silver hilt, British (Old Aberdeen Scotland), dated circa 1727, made by Robert Cruickshank, and a German blade (Solingen), possibly 2nd ½ 17th century. The knuckleguard roots are decorated with acanthus tip, while the main knuckleguard’s rear quillon is in the form of fleur-de-lys. The barrel-shaped silver grip features silver wire. The blade is two-edged with three fullers-central one with inscription.Struck on the stool towards the blade are four marks:A closed crown within an oval The capital letters R C in a rectangleThe capital letters OABD (A and B conjoined) in a rectangle with rounded ends The capital letter C in a rectangle with cut cornersOn blade lies the inscription “XX ANDRIA X FARARA XX and XX II XX II XX II XX”.Source: Copyright © 2015 Royal Collection Trust/Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II -- source link