Armes anciennes, Armures, Militaria

LONDON - Thomas Del Mar Ltd in association with Sotheby's will present the John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection on 7th May 2014. My personal selection of these 16th century's cap-a-pie armours. A composite European cap-a-pie field armour in the so-called 'Gothic' fashion, circa 1490-1510. Photo Thomas Del Mar Ltd comprising modern sallet with rounded skull, short separate 'tail'-plate, pivoted visor with a pair of flanged vision-slits, secured to the skull at the right by a spring-catch, Spanish bevor... [Lire la suite]

The Higgins Armory Collection. COURTESY THE WORCESTER ART MUSEUM. WORCESTER, MASS..- Opening March 29, 2014, Knights! reveals the fascinating place of arms and armor in the broader context of history, storytelling, and art. Only three months after the closing of Worcester’s beloved Higgins Armory Museum, this exhibition marks the first step in the long-term integration of arms and armor into the collection of the Worcester Art Museum. This process ensures that a treasure of national importance remains in Worcester and... [Lire la suite]

Sword hilt, India, 18th century. Photo courtesy Amir Mohtashemi Ltd. Of standard tulwar form with gold overlay and punched floral decoration. The pommel ending in an attachment with trefoil design. H: 15cm Amir Mohtashemi Ltd. MasterArt at TEFAF 2014. 14-23 march 2014 - http://www.masterart.com/

Riding toys, Kehlbehang, saddle pad, saddle, stirrups / ceremonial weapons set consists of broadsword with scabbard, sword with sheath, Pusikan, riding toy with Kehlbehang, saddle pad and saddle with stirrups. Johann Michael (manufacturer), Prague. 1610-1612 (1697 revised). Riding toys (headgear, chest and tail strap): Belt sämischgegerbtes buckskin upholstered in silk velvet ponceaufarbenem. Back covered with leather; Forged Silver, partially gilt, enamelled, set with colored background stones; reins... [Lire la suite]

Close helmet for combat at the barriers. Augsburg, about 1590 (HAM 2205.a). John Woodman Higgins Armory collection. Worcester Art Museum

Burgonet, ca. 1550–55, Italian, Milan. Embossed, etched, and partly gilt steel. Weight, 4 lb. 9 oz. (2069.5 g) Height, 15 1/2 in. (39.37 cm) Height of comb, 2 1/2 in. (6.35 cm) Greatest width, 9 in. (22.86 cm) © 2000–2013 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Allegorical figures of Fame and Victory are embossed on the sides of the bowl. The helmet was originally fitted with a pivoting visor and plates at the nape. Filippo Negroli (Italian, Milan, ca. 1510–1579), Burgonet, dated 1543, Italian, Milan. Embossed steel damascened... [Lire la suite]

Firangi Sword, 18th Century, Indian.  Steel, gold, wood, velvet. Full Length: 107cm Blade Length: 84 cm. The Firangi is an Indian weapon used by the Maratha tribes who made them with the blades of the swords that the Portuguese imported from Europe – hence the name "firangi" meaning foreigner – or were produced locally but imitating their characteristics.

Précieux collier de chevalier de l'ordre du Saint-Esprit par Jean-Charles Cahier. Photo Beaussant Lefèvre Il est constitué de vingt-neuf maillons à trois motifs alternés unifaces en or ciselé, bruni ou amati et partiellement émaillé. Quinze figurent une fleur de lys; huit un «H» émaillé de blanc, chargé d'une couronne de laurier, reposant sur deux cornes d'abondance et entouré de trois couronnes royales, rappel de la pieuse devise d'Henri III, «Manet ultima caelo» (l'ultime est au ciel); six un trophée d'armes orné... [Lire la suite]

Superbe monture d'épée en argent ciselé en ronde bosse sur fond amati doré. Epoque fin du XVIè siècle - début du XVIIè siècle. Travail allemand d'une très belle facture, probablement de Solingen. Photo Osenat Pommeau rond orné de deux sirènes et de deux tritons à longues chevelures, sculptés de dos, dont les queues de poissons sont entrelacées, deux sont recouverts d'écailles et les deux autres d'anneaux, l'ensemble enrichi de coquillages, de poissons et de végétaux. Fusée joliment et finement sculptée en suite de... [Lire la suite]

Pistol from the set presented to Nikolas I, Empire of Mahmoud, 1833. The State Hermitage Museum of St. Petersburg, Russia.