Page 44 - June 2018 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
P. 44
by John Sexton
John, thanks for taking my call today. I’ve attached a couple of pictures of the daguerreotypes or ambrotypes of miners wearing two-piece buckles of this genre.
Q:
tongue piece I found. I’m trying to figure out if it is a You also see photographs of women occasionally wearing a 2-piece buckle, but I
military artifact or not, and as much other information about don’t recall being able to see the device. These were worn on lightweight belts or
it as possible. possibly sashes.
I found it last October while metal detecting at a farm- Even though I’m not sure who made these or why, there have been
house built in 1851 in Kenosha County, Wisconsin. Any many sales over the years by dealers. The best non-excavated examples
information you can provide would be greatly appreciated! that are complete with both parts have sold for over $1,000 in the past,
but there was usually an interesting story with them, or they were
JS: I have never seen very much written on “sash associated with California mining in the 1850s.
buckles.” They are excavated in many sites, including Civil The star was a popular decorative device in the 19th century and is
War military camps, but more often around house sites. found in many genres. Several states adopted the star including Maine
There are many varieties; some of the more common have A sash buckle with a star and Mississippi, but most often, everyone thinks of Texas. Consequently,
a central device of various eagles, a star like yours, a fluted emblem, $300-$350. anything that is Texas brings a premium in the antique world, so most
anchor, and others. I have seen one on a lightweight cloth Sash buckles were worn enterprising dealers would advertise this buckle as “Texas,” though that’s
belt with advertising for a San Francisco firm associated by soldiers and civilians. not necessarily the case. You can probably find a similar tongue portion
with mining. You see photographs occasionally, either of the buckle like yours priced at a tradeshow for $300-$350.
$1,842 (33 bids, 21 bidders): Antique Civil War CDV Photograph Col. JS: This is the most common view of Robert Gould
Robert Shaw, 54th Mass. Black Regiment, Killed at Fort Wagner,
Shaw; there have been at least seven or eight examples
Charleston, SC. Measuring 2 3/8 by 3 7/8 inches, this original CDV photograph sold in auction over the last 10 years. The record price
is by the Boston photographer J. W. Black. It depicts Colonel Robert Gould was for an example sold by Heritage Auctions in Dallas
Shaw, who led the famous 54th Massachusetts on the attack on Fort Wagner, for $2,800, and the average price over the years was
Charleston SC. He was killed along with 272 black soldiers. This attack was about $1,700. Only one example cited sold for less than
depicted in the critically acclaimed 1990 movie, Glory. $1,000, and barely three examples brought over $2,000
Colonel Shaw not only fought the Confederates; he also fought the Union so the price realized on eBay reflects the current market
Army and forced them to give equal pay to his black soldiers. The attack on Fort quite accurately.
Wagner proved that black soldiers would fight as well as any other soldiers.
This Civil War CDV is in very good condition with a very light stain to the
upper left-hand corner. (Photos courtesy of eBay seller wwolst12.) CDV of Col. Robert Shaw.
Good morning, Mr. Sexton. I recently acquired a sword from an auction of privately for state or militia issue. Yours is a standard pattern with the leather
Q:
items that belonged to our county history museum that closed. For some odd reason scabbard with three large gilded brass mounts. Some private-purchase swords
(lack of advertising), most of the items didn’t sell. I purchased this sword a week have fancier engraved, solid gilded brass scabbards and unique blade etchings
after the auction. Anyhow, it’s such a fine and apparently rare sword that I don’t with names on state seals that make them more desirable in the marketplace.
feel it’s in the interest of history that I keep it as I am by no means a collector. I can You note your blade etching has a different decoration than you have found
only find a couple that are currently for sale, and neither is in as good of shape. on the others, including a caduceus, a drum and patriotic shield (panoply of
I was hoping to get a value and advice on where to sell such an item. As far as arms), and “E Pluribus Unum” instead of “Liberty” on the ribbon held by the
its history, I contacted a member of our county’s new museum who advised me they eagle. The Ames sword making company offered a variety of blade-edge
purchased the sword from the Lake County History Museum (a private museum, decorations, and value is not determined by the blade etching unless it is a
collector Robert Vogel) in 1965 when it closed, and they displayed it in the new presentation sword.
Lake County Discovery Museum until they sold off the property recently, which is This pattern, along with most other antebellum sword patterns, has been
how I obtained it. very soft in the market over the past few years. A rarer variety of the standard
As you can see from the pictures, it looks like it’s been in a museum for over fifty pattern such as you have is one that is U.S. inspected, meaning it was issued
years, aside from one repair to the leather scabbard. This example does not bear to the regular army, and they are quite rare. There is a nice inspected example
crossed cannons or Tecumseh. Rather, it has the Caduceus and sword with a drum for sale for $6,000 at one of the best Civil War dealer shops,
and patriotic shield. Also, the banner above the eagle reads “E Pluribus Unum” HorseSoldier.com.
rather than “Liberty.” Average examples without full-luster blades and problem scabbards sell in
the antique arms market for an average of about $1,200. The last extremely
fine example of this standard pattern sold as lot 723 at Morphy Auctions in
JS: Your sword is a beautiful example of the US model 1832 general staff
officer’s sword. There are variations in this pattern, as many were purchased Denver, PA, on November 8, 2018 for $3,900. That example was indeed as
close to pristine as you will find with a perfect blade and scabbard. Your
example, other than the break in the leather scabbard, appears excellent also.
It would be worthwhile to have the leather break professionally repaired.
An Ames 1832 general staff officer’s sword that didn’t sell at a
museum auction but was purchased afterwards.
John Sexton is an independent appraiser and expert of Civil War memorabilia. He is an accredited member of various appraiser organizations.
He can be contacted at 770-329-4984 or www.CivilWarDealer.com. For a free appraisal of a Civil War item, email a photo and a de scription
to mclwriter@gmail.com.
Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
42
John, thanks for taking my call today. I’ve attached a couple of pictures of the daguerreotypes or ambrotypes of miners wearing two-piece buckles of this genre.
Q:
tongue piece I found. I’m trying to figure out if it is a You also see photographs of women occasionally wearing a 2-piece buckle, but I
military artifact or not, and as much other information about don’t recall being able to see the device. These were worn on lightweight belts or
it as possible. possibly sashes.
I found it last October while metal detecting at a farm- Even though I’m not sure who made these or why, there have been
house built in 1851 in Kenosha County, Wisconsin. Any many sales over the years by dealers. The best non-excavated examples
information you can provide would be greatly appreciated! that are complete with both parts have sold for over $1,000 in the past,
but there was usually an interesting story with them, or they were
JS: I have never seen very much written on “sash associated with California mining in the 1850s.
buckles.” They are excavated in many sites, including Civil The star was a popular decorative device in the 19th century and is
War military camps, but more often around house sites. found in many genres. Several states adopted the star including Maine
There are many varieties; some of the more common have A sash buckle with a star and Mississippi, but most often, everyone thinks of Texas. Consequently,
a central device of various eagles, a star like yours, a fluted emblem, $300-$350. anything that is Texas brings a premium in the antique world, so most
anchor, and others. I have seen one on a lightweight cloth Sash buckles were worn enterprising dealers would advertise this buckle as “Texas,” though that’s
belt with advertising for a San Francisco firm associated by soldiers and civilians. not necessarily the case. You can probably find a similar tongue portion
with mining. You see photographs occasionally, either of the buckle like yours priced at a tradeshow for $300-$350.
$1,842 (33 bids, 21 bidders): Antique Civil War CDV Photograph Col. JS: This is the most common view of Robert Gould
Robert Shaw, 54th Mass. Black Regiment, Killed at Fort Wagner,
Shaw; there have been at least seven or eight examples
Charleston, SC. Measuring 2 3/8 by 3 7/8 inches, this original CDV photograph sold in auction over the last 10 years. The record price
is by the Boston photographer J. W. Black. It depicts Colonel Robert Gould was for an example sold by Heritage Auctions in Dallas
Shaw, who led the famous 54th Massachusetts on the attack on Fort Wagner, for $2,800, and the average price over the years was
Charleston SC. He was killed along with 272 black soldiers. This attack was about $1,700. Only one example cited sold for less than
depicted in the critically acclaimed 1990 movie, Glory. $1,000, and barely three examples brought over $2,000
Colonel Shaw not only fought the Confederates; he also fought the Union so the price realized on eBay reflects the current market
Army and forced them to give equal pay to his black soldiers. The attack on Fort quite accurately.
Wagner proved that black soldiers would fight as well as any other soldiers.
This Civil War CDV is in very good condition with a very light stain to the
upper left-hand corner. (Photos courtesy of eBay seller wwolst12.) CDV of Col. Robert Shaw.
Good morning, Mr. Sexton. I recently acquired a sword from an auction of privately for state or militia issue. Yours is a standard pattern with the leather
Q:
items that belonged to our county history museum that closed. For some odd reason scabbard with three large gilded brass mounts. Some private-purchase swords
(lack of advertising), most of the items didn’t sell. I purchased this sword a week have fancier engraved, solid gilded brass scabbards and unique blade etchings
after the auction. Anyhow, it’s such a fine and apparently rare sword that I don’t with names on state seals that make them more desirable in the marketplace.
feel it’s in the interest of history that I keep it as I am by no means a collector. I can You note your blade etching has a different decoration than you have found
only find a couple that are currently for sale, and neither is in as good of shape. on the others, including a caduceus, a drum and patriotic shield (panoply of
I was hoping to get a value and advice on where to sell such an item. As far as arms), and “E Pluribus Unum” instead of “Liberty” on the ribbon held by the
its history, I contacted a member of our county’s new museum who advised me they eagle. The Ames sword making company offered a variety of blade-edge
purchased the sword from the Lake County History Museum (a private museum, decorations, and value is not determined by the blade etching unless it is a
collector Robert Vogel) in 1965 when it closed, and they displayed it in the new presentation sword.
Lake County Discovery Museum until they sold off the property recently, which is This pattern, along with most other antebellum sword patterns, has been
how I obtained it. very soft in the market over the past few years. A rarer variety of the standard
As you can see from the pictures, it looks like it’s been in a museum for over fifty pattern such as you have is one that is U.S. inspected, meaning it was issued
years, aside from one repair to the leather scabbard. This example does not bear to the regular army, and they are quite rare. There is a nice inspected example
crossed cannons or Tecumseh. Rather, it has the Caduceus and sword with a drum for sale for $6,000 at one of the best Civil War dealer shops,
and patriotic shield. Also, the banner above the eagle reads “E Pluribus Unum” HorseSoldier.com.
rather than “Liberty.” Average examples without full-luster blades and problem scabbards sell in
the antique arms market for an average of about $1,200. The last extremely
fine example of this standard pattern sold as lot 723 at Morphy Auctions in
JS: Your sword is a beautiful example of the US model 1832 general staff
officer’s sword. There are variations in this pattern, as many were purchased Denver, PA, on November 8, 2018 for $3,900. That example was indeed as
close to pristine as you will find with a perfect blade and scabbard. Your
example, other than the break in the leather scabbard, appears excellent also.
It would be worthwhile to have the leather break professionally repaired.
An Ames 1832 general staff officer’s sword that didn’t sell at a
museum auction but was purchased afterwards.
John Sexton is an independent appraiser and expert of Civil War memorabilia. He is an accredited member of various appraiser organizations.
He can be contacted at 770-329-4984 or www.CivilWarDealer.com. For a free appraisal of a Civil War item, email a photo and a de scription
to mclwriter@gmail.com.
Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
42
