Saber and Scabbard Presented to Lieutenant Colonel Edward Pakenham
The practice of presenting a sword as a token of honor is ancient, but during England’s wars with France, from 1793 to 1815, the practice reached its apogee. In those years numerous smallswords and sabers were designed and manufactured by London’s leading goldsmiths and cutlers on behalf of government and civic organizations to honor distinguished members of the armed forces, the Royal Navy in particular, for their heroic actions on sea and land. This saber was presented to Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Michael Pakenham (1778–1815), an infantry officer, who in 1799 was assigned to support British naval operations in the Caribbean. He helped to coordinate the defense of St. Croix during a slave insurrection. St. Croix, a Danish possession in the Virgin Islands, was strategically located guarding the Anegada Passage and was key to British naval operations. Pakenham was awarded this gold sword by the citizens of St. Croix for his heroic actions.
Considered by noted specialist Claude Blair as "among the finest of all Ray and Montague’s products" and "reminiscent of the best work of Paul Storr," this saber is a masterpiece of English goldmiths’ work and one of the outstanding presentation swords made in London during the Napoleonic Wars. It is distinguished by an elegant, if reserved, design, crisp chasing, and superb condition; its boldly modeled bearded mask on the pommel and brilliantly colored enameled arms of Denmark and of Pakenham on the grip are noteworthy features. The quality of the hilt is matched by that of the deeply curved blade, which is decorated its entire length, with etching, bluing, and gilding on the upper half and with frost-etching on the lower half. The imagery includes the Royal Arms and Orders of Denmark and the presentation inscription: "From the Inhabitants of St. Croix to the Honourable Lieutenant Colonel Pakenham as a Testimony of his Military Merit and Worth, 1802."
Considered by noted specialist Claude Blair as "among the finest of all Ray and Montague’s products" and "reminiscent of the best work of Paul Storr," this saber is a masterpiece of English goldmiths’ work and one of the outstanding presentation swords made in London during the Napoleonic Wars. It is distinguished by an elegant, if reserved, design, crisp chasing, and superb condition; its boldly modeled bearded mask on the pommel and brilliantly colored enameled arms of Denmark and of Pakenham on the grip are noteworthy features. The quality of the hilt is matched by that of the deeply curved blade, which is decorated its entire length, with etching, bluing, and gilding on the upper half and with frost-etching on the lower half. The imagery includes the Royal Arms and Orders of Denmark and the presentation inscription: "From the Inhabitants of St. Croix to the Honourable Lieutenant Colonel Pakenham as a Testimony of his Military Merit and Worth, 1802."
Artwork Details
- Title: Saber and Scabbard Presented to Lieutenant Colonel Edward Pakenham
- Goldsmith: John Ray and James Montague (British, London, in partnership 1800–21)
- Retailer: R. Clarke & Son (British, London, partnership recorded 1797–1808)
- Date: hallmarked for 1802–03
- Geography: London
- Culture: British, London
- Medium: Steel, gold, enamel, leather
- Dimensions: L. 33 3/4 in. (85.7 cm); Wt. 2 lb. 2 oz. (965 g); L. of saber 33 3/8 in. (84.8 cm); L. of blade 28 1/2 in. (72.5 cm); W. of saber 5 1/8 in. (12.9 cm); Wt. of saber 1 lb. 8 oz. (976 g); L. of scabbard 29 in. (73.6 cm); W. of scabbard 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm); Wt. of scabbard 10.15 oz. (288 g)
- Classification: Swords
- Credit Line: Russell Barnett Aitken and Irene Roosevelt Aitken Collection, Promised Gift of Irene Roosevelt Aitken, in celebration of the Museum's 150th Anniversary
- Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor
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