A Fine Lancer Officers Sword by Prosser.
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36 ¼” overall, 30 ¾” curved blade, double edged towards the point, etched with elaborate scrolling foliage, the maker's details 'Prosser maker to the King and Royal Family, London', the owner's crest, coat-of-arms and motto on one face, and with further foliage, including a lancer trophy of arms on the other. Gilt brass continental style hilt comprising scrolling bars, quillon and back strap rising to the pommel and banded grip bound with plaited wire, with an early knot. In its steel scabbard with two suspension rings.
Circa 1835-7.
A most interesting sword of very high quality in very good condition, worthy of further research.
The arms are those of Taylor of Bifrons, Kent. Possibly Sir Herbert Taylor.
It has been suggested that the absence of the Royal arms on the blade and the style of the hilt that this may have been carried by an officer of the British Legion that fought in Spain during the first Carlist War (1835-7). The legion was a force of 10,000 men raised with Royal permission to fight in support of Queen Christina and commanded by De Lacy Evans who was granted the rank of lieutenant-general in the Spanish army. Evans and the Legion were severely criticised in the Tory press but his services were rewarded on his return to England with promotion to full colonel (June 1837) and a KCB (1838).
Provenance from David Jeffcoat Collection