Arms, Armour & Militaria

Bellmans is holding its first Arms & Armour auction in Billingshurst on September 10.

It’s not often that a group of medals offered at auction includes two that were in fact officially revoked. However, a lot that appeared at an East Yorkshire auction house on June 27 reflected a notorious tale of colonial corruption.

A “very rare” First World War pair of medals and memorial plaque to a female casualty of the SS Lusitania came up for auction at Mayfair saleroom Noonans (24% buyer’s premium) on July 16.

Even though the Austro-Hungarian monarchy was abolished in 1918, there is still no shortage of nostalgic buyers for memorabilia and relics from the House of Habsburg.

The ‘T’ on the front of this rather grand Victorian or Edwardian fire brigade helmet probably proved the difference when it came to demand.

When the situation demanded it, German consular officials in the tropics were required to wear a ceremonial helmet.

French château contents sales, like their equivalent country house sales in the UK, still surface occasionally on the auction market.

A fine example of the Libertas Americana silver medal is estimated to fetch between £50,000-80,000 at Anderson & Garland’s Fine Silver and Objects of Vertu auction in Newcastle on July 22.

Foremost among Olympia Auctions’ several collections on offer in the June 25-26 sale are the 96 lots from Robert Brooker’s collection.

Edged weapons such as swords and daggers are on a ‘hot streak’ as one saleroom puts it. Here we look at the latest highlights

A striking household cavalry officer’s 1817 pattern helmet offered at Antony Cribb (25% buyer’s premium) had the considerable bonus of retaining its “very rare” japanned storage tin with the owner’s name legible.

Polish items were in high demand at German saleroom Hermann Historica (29.5% buyer’s premium inc tax) during the Spring Auction series.

The auction history of this highly decorative cased pair of Spanish 22 bore convertible ‘Madrid’ lock pistols goes all the way back to 1843 - with a royal connection.

A strong selection of 18th and 19th century British helmets impressed at East Sussex saleroom Wallis & Wallis (24% buyer’s premium) on May 29, many bringing strong four-figure sums well above estimate.

Sword linked to former emperor is one of the highlights at London sale held by maritime specialist

A Prussian Garde du Corps helmet that might well have once graced parade grounds and palaces took pride of place in an East Yorkshire saleroom.

This distinctive domed form of this carefully forged helmet gives a big clue to its origin.