EARLY 18TH CENTURY SILVER HILTED SMALL SWORD OF LT. COL. JOHN STORER (1694-1768).

Revised: 2/3/2010

Additional Information: We do not guarantee all of what Peterson said about this sword in his book nor do we guarantee where it was made. We only guarantee that it comes from the Armsden family and that it was John Storer’s sword. Also, someone has mentioned, and after close inspection we agree, the quillon has an old in period use repair.

EARLY 18TH CENTURY SILVER HILTED SMALL SWORD OF LT. COL. JOHN STORER (1694-1768). Early 18th Century silver hilted small sword inscribed “I Storer” (in the 18th-century capital Is and Js were used interchangeably). This Silver hilted sword is typical of what is seen being carried in America in its early days up to the mid 18th century. The large functional pas d’ anes denote this swords early manufacture. This exact sword is pictured and described in American Silver Mounted Swords 1700-1815, A Catalog of an Exhibition Held at the Corcoran Gallery of Art by Harold Peterson, Chief Curator of the National Park Service. This book was published in Washington, DC in 1955. Peterson attributes sword to family of Stephen Decatur and describes it as follows plate 4. “Unmarked, attributed to William Cario, Boston and Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 1730-1752. Carried by Lt. Col. John Storer, 1694 — 1768. Hilt characterized by exceptionally large and functional pas d’ anes and by very fine channeling and panel decorations. Grips of wood covered first with flat strips of silver and then wound with twisted silver wire. On the blade side of the obverse counter guard is engraved the name “I Storer”. French blade, hexagonal in section and tapering evenly to the point. The original etched decorations have been largely worn away. American Silver hilted small swords with such excellent provenance are rarely offered. Lt. Col. John Storer was born in 1694. He lived in Wells, Maine and was a judge of the Superior Court there, a representative to the General Court and Colonel on the Louisburg Expedition in 1745 then Colonists, joined by British Naval Ships, captured the Louisburg Fortress in Nova Scotia. Lt. Col. John Storers personal hand written diary of his march and involvement in this expedition is another lit in this same auction. SIZE: 36 1/4″ overall, blade 29 3/4″ by 7/8″ at the hilt CONDITION: The sword is in very good condition overall as can be seen in photographs sword is complete though silver wire wrap is a bit loose and bunching. 9-97945 (3,000-5,000)

Auction: Fine Art, Antiques & Asian - Winter 2010

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2101	$13,800.00	Revised: 2/3/2010 Additional Information: We do not guarantee all of what Peterson said about this sword in his book nor do we guarantee where it was made. We only guarantee that it comes from the Armsden family and that it was John Storer’s sword. Also, someone has mentioned, and after close inspection we agree, the quillon has an old in period use repair. EARLY 18TH CENTURY SILVER HILTED SMALL SWORD OF LT. COL. JOHN STORER (1694-1768). Early 18th Century silver hilted small sword inscribed “I Storer” (in the 18th-century capital Is and Js were used interchangeably). This Silver hilted sword is typical of what is seen being carried in America in its early days up to the mid 18th century. The large functional pas d’ anes denote this swords early manufacture. This exact sword is pictured and described in American Silver Mounted Swords 1700-1815, A Catalog of an Exhibition Held at the Corcoran Gallery of Art by Harold Peterson, Chief Curator of the National Park Service. This book was published in Washington, DC in 1955. Peterson attributes sword to family of Stephen Decatur and describes it as follows plate 4. “Unmarked, attributed to William Cario, Boston and Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 1730-1752. Carried by Lt. Col. John Storer, 1694 — 1768. Hilt characterized by exceptionally large and functional pas d’ anes and by very fine channeling and panel decorations. Grips of wood covered first with flat strips of silver and then wound with twisted silver wire. On the blade side of the obverse counter guard is engraved the name “I Storer”. French blade, hexagonal in section and tapering evenly to the point. The original etched decorations have been largely worn away. American Silver hilted small swords with such excellent provenance are rarely offered. Lt. Col. John Storer was born in 1694. He lived in Wells, Maine and was a judge of the Superior Court there, a representative to the General Court and Colonel on the Louisburg Expedition in 1745 then Colonists, joined by British Naval Ships, captured the Louisburg Fortress in Nova Scotia. Lt. Col. John Storers personal hand written diary of his march and involvement in this expedition is another lit in this same auction. SIZE: 36 1/4″ overall, blade 29 3/4″ by 7/8″ at the hilt CONDITION: The sword is in very good condition overall as can be seen in photographs sword is complete though silver wire wrap is a bit loose and bunching. 9-97945 (3,000-5,000) Auction: Fine Art, Antiques & Asian - Winter 2010 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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