RARE AND ORNATE SOLID SILVER TIFFANY PRESENTATION SWORD TO MAJOR GENERAL LEWIS MERRILL.

RARE AND ORNATE SOLID SILVER TIFFANY PRESENTATION SWORD TO MAJOR GENERAL LEWIS MERRILL. This fabulous sword for many years was on display at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on loan from the family. This sword was cataloged in 1958 by Jay P. Altmayer in his book “AMERICAN PRESENTATION SWORDS”. He describes this sword “One of Tiffany’s more ornate swords which is apparently unique in design is the General Lewis Merrill sword now owned by the West Point Museum. This particular sword is one of Tiffany’s most outstanding designs. The scabbard and the hilt are all solid silver with the scabbard being finished with a dull gold wash, and most of the hilt with the same treatment. The sword is marked “Tiffany & Company” at the ricasso. It has a straight blade 31-1/2″ in length, completely decorated from the ricasso to within 10″ of the point on both sides of the blade with scroll work, military trophies, liberty cap, United States eagle and shield. There is no inscription on the blade. The scabbard is particularly ornate. The Roman fasces and the head of Medusa crop out between a stand of flags at the top carrying ring level. In a medallion between the upper and lower carrying rings, we find the following inscriptions, “United we stand, divided we fall”. Also etched on the scabbard, “The loyal men of Northwest Missouri to General Lewis Merrill 1862″. One of the particularly attractive and interesting features of this most unusual casting is the superb detail work of Victory holding a laurel wreath in her hand, which forms the entire grip of the sword”. This Tiffany sword is among the very highest grade and quality swords ever made during the American Civil War; it is all custom made and the pattern or details show up nowhere in Tiffany’s pattern book. This sword exhibits many unique features not seen in any other Tiffany product including a damascene etch at the last 8″ of blade which makes the entire surface of the blade etched. It is possible that in the Tiffany archives the original drawing and plans for this sword still exis as Tiffany records are extensive. Scabbard design is similar in some details to the Tiffany made sword for Sheridan who also was given a solid silver sword and scabbard which is quite rare for Tiffany and very few were made. General Merrill had a brilliant military career not only during the Civil War but during the Indian Wars also. The following biography is taken from the Arlington Cemetery website where he is buried. “Born in Pennsylvania, he entered the United States Military Academy in May 1851 and graduated in July 1855, ranking 20th in his class of 34 graduates and as the 1696th graduate of the Academy. He was appointed Brevet Second Lieutenant, 1st U.S. Dragoons, July 1, 1855. He served in garrison at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, and on frontier duty at Forts Leavenworth and Riley in 1855. He was appointed a Second Lieutenant, 2nd U.S. Dragoons, December 13, 1855. He was stationed at Carlisle barracks in 1856 and took part in quelling the Kansas disturbances in 1856-58. He was in the Utah expedition in 1858 and on sick leave in 1859, and then in the Kiowa and Comanche campaigns in 1860. He was promoted to First Lieutenant April 24, 1861, and then promoted to Colonel and Chief of Cavalry Staff, of Major General Fremont in August 1861. He organized and was appointed Colonel of the regiment of Merrill’s Horse, Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, August 23, 1861. He was engaged in numerous battles in Missouri and Arkansas, and Tennessee and Georgia until 1865. He received promotions through the ranks until March 13, 1865, when he was breveted Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers, for his gallant and meritorious services during the war. Mustered out of volunteer service December 14, 1865. Stationed at Fort Leavenworth and other frontier posts from 1866, in staff positions mainly. Commanding troops in northwest South Carolina from March 1871 to June 1873, engaged in suppression of Ku Klux Klan activity. He received the thanks of the War Department and of Brigadier General Alfred Terry for his great work and ability in breaking up Klan conspiracy. He was on sick leave until August 1874, and on frontier duty at Fort Rice, Dakota Territory, from August to September 1874. Commanding two battalions of the 7th U.S. Cavalry enroute to and in New Orleans to October 1874. At Shreveport, Louisiana, commanding the District of the Red River to February 1876, when he became chief of military staff to the President at the Centennial Exhibition. On frontier duty at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory, to May 1877, when he commanded a battalion of the 7th U.S. Cavalry departing for the Nez Perce campaign. Engaged in the Canyon Creek fight on September 14, 1877. At Fort Lincoln to November 1878. Commanding a battalion at Standing Rock, Dakota Territory, to May 1880, and then commanding troops guarding construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad in December 1880.” He was a member of the Whittaker court martial in New York City to May 1881, and then returned to guarding construction of the Northern Pacific until December 1882. He was breveted Brigadier General, U.S. Army, February 27, 1890, for his gallant service at Canyon Creek. He died on February 27, 1896, at age 62, and was buried in Section 2 of Arlington National Cemetery.” PROVENANCE: Fred B. McDonald Estate Collection. CONDITION: Hilt and scabbard retain much or most of their original gilt plating over the solid silver. There are scattered small scratches, scrapes and small dings on scabbard body but the repousse and relief mounts and hilt decoration are largely unaffected. There appears to be a missing feature just above Medusa’s head where three wires appear broken at base of halberds between the two American flags. The blade is bright/white with small areas of staining and light pitting. The original buff leather washer is intact and solid. Gold background on blade etch is very light and only traces remain however etch patterns are excellent and all easily discernible as seen in photos. 4-41456 JS25 (85,000-125,000)

Auction: Firearms - Spring 2011

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
	2363	$241,500.00	RARE AND ORNATE SOLID SILVER TIFFANY PRESENTATION SWORD TO MAJOR GENERAL LEWIS MERRILL. This fabulous sword for many years was on display at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on loan from the family. This sword was cataloged in 1958 by Jay P. Altmayer in his book “AMERICAN PRESENTATION SWORDS”. He describes this sword “One of Tiffany’s more ornate swords which is apparently unique in design is the General Lewis Merrill sword now owned by the West Point Museum. This particular sword is one of Tiffany’s most outstanding designs. The scabbard and the hilt are all solid silver with the scabbard being finished with a dull gold wash, and most of the hilt with the same treatment. The sword is marked “Tiffany & Company” at the ricasso. It has a straight blade 31-1/2″ in length, completely decorated from the ricasso to within 10″ of the point on both sides of the blade with scroll work, military trophies, liberty cap, United States eagle and shield. There is no inscription on the blade. The scabbard is particularly ornate. The Roman fasces and the head of Medusa crop out between a stand of flags at the top carrying ring level. In a medallion between the upper and lower carrying rings, we find the following inscriptions, “United we stand, divided we fall”. Also etched on the scabbard, “The loyal men of Northwest Missouri to General Lewis Merrill 1862″. One of the particularly attractive and interesting features of this most unusual casting is the superb detail work of Victory holding a laurel wreath in her hand, which forms the entire grip of the sword”. This Tiffany sword is among the very highest grade and quality swords ever made during the American Civil War; it is all custom made and the pattern or details show up nowhere in Tiffany’s pattern book. This sword exhibits many unique features not seen in any other Tiffany product including a damascene etch at the last 8″ of blade which makes the entire surface of the blade etched. It is possible that in the Tiffany archives the original drawing and plans for this sword still exis as Tiffany records are extensive. Scabbard design is similar in some details to the Tiffany made sword for Sheridan who also was given a solid silver sword and scabbard which is quite rare for Tiffany and very few were made. General Merrill had a brilliant military career not only during the Civil War but during the Indian Wars also. The following biography is taken from the Arlington Cemetery website where he is buried. “Born in Pennsylvania, he entered the United States Military Academy in May 1851 and graduated in July 1855, ranking 20th in his class of 34 graduates and as the 1696th graduate of the Academy. He was appointed Brevet Second Lieutenant, 1st U.S. Dragoons, July 1, 1855. He served in garrison at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, and on frontier duty at Forts Leavenworth and Riley in 1855. He was appointed a Second Lieutenant, 2nd U.S. Dragoons, December 13, 1855. He was stationed at Carlisle barracks in 1856 and took part in quelling the Kansas disturbances in 1856-58. He was in the Utah expedition in 1858 and on sick leave in 1859, and then in the Kiowa and Comanche campaigns in 1860. He was promoted to First Lieutenant April 24, 1861, and then promoted to Colonel and Chief of Cavalry Staff, of Major General Fremont in August 1861. He organized and was appointed Colonel of the regiment of Merrill’s Horse, Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, August 23, 1861. He was engaged in numerous battles in Missouri and Arkansas, and Tennessee and Georgia until 1865. He received promotions through the ranks until March 13, 1865, when he was breveted Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers, for his gallant and meritorious services during the war. Mustered out of volunteer service December 14, 1865. Stationed at Fort Leavenworth and other frontier posts from 1866, in staff positions mainly. Commanding troops in northwest South Carolina from March 1871 to June 1873, engaged in suppression of Ku Klux Klan activity. He received the thanks of the War Department and of Brigadier General Alfred Terry for his great work and ability in breaking up Klan conspiracy. He was on sick leave until August 1874, and on frontier duty at Fort Rice, Dakota Territory, from August to September 1874. Commanding two battalions of the 7th U.S. Cavalry enroute to and in New Orleans to October 1874. At Shreveport, Louisiana, commanding the District of the Red River to February 1876, when he became chief of military staff to the President at the Centennial Exhibition. On frontier duty at Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Territory, to May 1877, when he commanded a battalion of the 7th U.S. Cavalry departing for the Nez Perce campaign. Engaged in the Canyon Creek fight on September 14, 1877. At Fort Lincoln to November 1878. Commanding a battalion at Standing Rock, Dakota Territory, to May 1880, and then commanding troops guarding construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad in December 1880.” He was a member of the Whittaker court martial in New York City to May 1881, and then returned to guarding construction of the Northern Pacific until December 1882. He was breveted Brigadier General, U.S. Army, February 27, 1890, for his gallant service at Canyon Creek. He died on February 27, 1896, at age 62, and was buried in Section 2 of Arlington National Cemetery.” PROVENANCE: Fred B. McDonald Estate Collection. CONDITION: Hilt and scabbard retain much or most of their original gilt plating over the solid silver. There are scattered small scratches, scrapes and small dings on scabbard body but the repousse and relief mounts and hilt decoration are largely unaffected. There appears to be a missing feature just above Medusa’s head where three wires appear broken at base of halberds between the two American flags. The blade is bright/white with small areas of staining and light pitting. The original buff leather washer is intact and solid. Gold background on blade etch is very light and only traces remain however etch patterns are excellent and all easily discernible as seen in photos. 4-41456 JS25 (85,000-125,000) Auction: Firearms - Spring 2011 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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