A glimpse of the prizes awaiting the eagle-eyed was afforded by results for Waterloo-period Household Cavalry swords at recent sales.
At the Bosleys (20% buyer’s premium) sale of military antiques at Marlow on July 3 plenty was available to choose from but the pick of the lots were two Household Cavalry blades.
First up was a trooper’s sword with a distinctive straight blade, single-edged with a hatchet point. Household regiments had their own distinctive style of blade and this was the pattern used through the Peninsula War and Waterloo. It sold for £2600.
The following lot was an officer’s version with a straight, spear-pointed blade and a royal lion crest on the gilt-metal guard. This made £4200 on thesaleroom.com.
Another Household Cavalry officer’s sword was on offer at Bonhams (25% buyer’s premium) on May 23. In better condition and with an urn-shaped pommel, this example reached £5550.
