January 19, 2008
Record price for Scottish great sword
As the Antiques Trade Gazette notes, genuine 16th-century Scottish two-handed swords are extremely rare and virtually never come on the market, nearly all residing in museums.
Despite some later restoration to the grip, its rarity meant that there was bound to be keen interest when it was included in the property to be sold from Warwick Castle to benefit the Great Hall armour display.I'm not sure what the current consensus is regarding the term "claymore" -- whether it should be applied to the early two-handed swords, or only to the later one-handed basket-hilted broadswords. I also wonder if the record price need be qualified as "for a European 16th-century sword", given the price level of top Japanese blades.Thomas Del Mar Ltd, who hold sales in association with Sotheby's at Olympia, offered the sword as part of their December 12 Antique Arms, Armour and Militaria sale with an estimate of £50,000-80,000.
With four parties interested, bidding rose quickly, leading to a three-way battle between two phones and a bidder in the room up to the £100,000 mark. From then on it was down to the two phones, the successful private buyer finally securing the sword at £200,000 plus 20 per cent premium, a record for a Scottish sword, the previous record standing at £24,000.
It also sets a new record for a 16th century sword, going over four times the £48,000 taken in 2001 for a German "hand a half" example.
Posted by David on January 19, 2008 3:45 PM
The great two-handed and double-edged swords of the earlier period are the original claymores (Gaelic - claidheamh, a sword, and mor, great). The term began to be transferred in the 18th century to the one-handed basket-hilted broadsword (in the context of Highland Jacobites carrying them), and then it became common for basket-hilted one-handers. So you can use it for either, but the term originates with the earlier swords.
Posted by: Flitcraft on January 19, 2008 4:54 PM
Thanks -- that refreshes the memory. I was inverting my faded recollection of purists objecting to the application of the term "claymore" to the later basket-hilts (despite the "incorrect" usage having plenty of contemporary documentation).
Posted by: David on January 19, 2008 5:11 PM
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