Arms, Armour & Militaria

This fine pair of early 18th century flintlock pistols by John Harman of London are part of a collection of firearms and militaria that goes under the hammer at Catherine Southon on September 17 in Chislehurst, south-east London.

A gilt metal cloak clasp taken from the apartment of Napoleon Bonaparte after his death on St Helena in 1821 has sold at auction for £10,000.

While modern communications would appear to have diminished the role of the King’s or Queen’s Messengers in the 21st century, the job and title remains.

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.