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Set of 13 Wonderful Prints with the Name “Victoria Cross Gallery” (Item BRITSCOT 3-3)
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| DESCRIPTION: This was a series that was sold in limited numbers in the U.K. in the 1960s. They came in a folder and were sold in set for substantial money. We have two partial sets. The one we offer here is in quite good shape with minor staining on only one or two prints. Each scene is a separate incident that earned a hero the coveted Victoria Cross. There are depictions of battle in the Indian mutiny, the siege of Lucknow, Crimea, the African Battle of Teb Alma, the Boar War, Balaclava, etc. The beautiful brilliant colors are spectacular and each figure seems embossed. They are 9 1/2 x 6 1/4 inches in size and are nice for individual framing. They are rare as we have said and should end up in a fine collection of British military rarities. We don’t have the folder (cover).
PRICE: $125.00
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Set of 9 Wonderful Prints with the Name “Victoria Cross Gallery” (Item BRITSCOT 3-4)
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| DESCRIPTION: This is another set of the gallery shown above, but it is only nine in number and these pieces are rather stained in places, but the central motif is unharmed in all of them. There is no real discernable distress in any of them actually and they will still be quite striking when framed.
PRICE: $90.00
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Royal Air Force (RAF) Presentation Cigarette Box (Item BRITSCOT 3-5)
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| DESCRIPTION: This is a pretty special presentation gift to a Royal Air Force officer, Flight Lieutenant W.T. Doherty from the G.I.S. Staff (Geographic Information Center). This was the department that would exchange information security at the secret level between operational bases in Britain and other bases such as this one in Canada. The inscription that is engraved on the top of the box indicates everything about the presentation. This is a beautiful artistic accomplishment and the GIS staff must have thought a great deal of this airman to give him such a wonderful gift. The presentation was made at the RAF base at Mount Hope, Ontario, Canada. We do know that there was a navigation school at Mt. Hope as well as a museum of the RAF that is in operation today at that site. The box is in silver and beautifully hallmarked and marked with the manufacturer’s name and the word “sterling.” The inside has cedar inserts. The top of the box to the right and left of the inscription are RAF wings shown in high relief and a Spitfire airplane, or is it a Hurricane? All in all, this is a great military box that is usable, beautiful, and historically important. It measures 6 1/2 x3 1/2 inches across the top and is 2 inches deep.
PRICE: $490.00
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Naval Blunderbuss with Swing-out Bayonet (Item BRITSCOT 3-8)
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| DESCRIPTION: This is an excellent example of the blunderbuss used aboard a British warship of the line, circa 1860s. This was found in Massachusetts, along with another in the flintlock mode that you will see at Item BRITSCOT 3-2. The usage is the same as the description of the early flintlock model. This one, however, is the cap-and-ball percussion firing system. The side lock is much different because of the percussion system and the butt plate is iron. It has a checkered grip and the whole construction is much more sturdy and solid. The significant difference is that this is the model with swing-out spring bayonet. If the deadly charge of buckshot or ball did not do the carnage intended by a member of a boarding party or a ship’s defender, then the “jolly tar” could hit the lever and out would come a vicious-looking bayonet with its three-cornered murderous edges. This close-quarter hand-to-hand fighting in ship-to-ship action was the bloodiest in the history of warfare; far beyond even the trench warfare of World War I. The mouth opening of this weapon is probably a 1.25-caliber muzzle. The stock is carved walnut with sharp contours and smooth surfaces. There are proof marks on a rear portion of the brass barrel (probably Birmingham). The trigger guard has the brass pineapple-type forward finial en suite with the guard. The brass tipped ramrod/cleaning rod is original and miraculously still intact, and with the weapon. The firearm is with untouched mounts with a dark-mustard, brass patina in complete functional order; probably produced by the Richards family that produced many of the best of these naval weapons. All in all this is an excellent classic example of an English blunderbuss. Its overall length is about 32 inches. We love this one, particularly as it is absolutely the best!
PRICE: SOLD
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Beautiful Giant Wall Shield by Elkington from the Science and Art Department
(Item BRITSCOT 3-9)
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| DESCRIPTION: This is not only quite beautiful, but it is an important British national treasure in the finest mode. In the 1880s (Victoria's reign), the British government commissioned various reproductions of historical metalwork. Museums and art schools used them to teach people about different styles of decoration. This was part of a government initiative to improve the quality of British design. The old prestigious firm of Elkington, based in Birmingham, made these metal replicas that were actually the state-of-the-art in their time. Many of the finer items such as this magnificent shield were exhibited at the Crystal Palace when it was opened in London by Queen Victoria in 1851, and at that time the Science and Art Department was born. Make no mistake, the royal seal that is seen set in a silver tab at the back of the shield means that this piece had the coveted royal approval and was surely a favored piece of the Victorian Department of Science and Art, an official government entity. The shield was produced as an example of electro-type first used at the turn of the 19th century. It was patented by Elkington & Co. in 1840. Shields were one of the favorite art objects turned out by Elkington & Co. This one is a circular shield with a central circular convex shape with a long lethal-looking boss with spike jutting out of the shield's center. The surface design is in high relief with chasing and engraving of great complexity. Dramatically figurative reliefs adorn the edges and central design. The perimeter is bordered with a braided-rope design. The central motif is of various legends and personages: We have St. George slaying the dragon; the saga of Hercules against the Minotaur; King Midas being advised by an unknown oracle or philosopher; a mermaid trying to entice two knights who stand before a castle; various grotesque faces leer out at you within the design. Around the edges are bust portraits of a Dante-looking gentleman, an Elizabethan fellow, and two men who may be Caesars of Rome. They are joined or separated by an unusual combination of geometric and floral design. The shield has a measurement of 27 inches in diameter. It is heavy also and appears to be constructed in bronze or brass. This is an absolutely gorgeous parlor or den decoration for the discriminating collector or anybody who appreciates the wonderful fine arts of the past. This is our heritage: “No people live longer than the documentation of their culture.” Here we hand you our glorious European sagas as an important object d’art.
PRICE: SOLD
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Empire Patch for SGT Major in the British Army (Item BRITSCOT 3-10)
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| DESCRIPTION: This beautiful patch is done in the finest of gold and silver bullion thread. It is spectacular looking and big 6 inches high and 5 1/2 inches wide. The quality is superb. The British Empire mottos are clearly defined. You will not see better; it’s absolutely beautiful! The motto at the bottom is “Dieu et Mon Droit,” “God and My Right.” The motto of the Order of the Garter is also seen in the middle crest “Honi Soit Qui Mal Pence,” “Evil to Him who Evil Thinks.”
PRICE: $195.00
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Patch for the City of London (Item BRITSCOT 3-11)
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| DESCRIPTION: This is a huge example of the crest of the guard detachment for the city of London. The bullion work is extra exceptional with the St. George cross and the supporting griffons to the right and left. At the top is the crusader’s helmet. The motto “DOMINE DIRIGE NOS,” is Latin for “Lord, guide us.” This patch is the finest example of bullion workmanship that we have ever seen.
PRICE: SOLD
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Black Dirk with Celtic Dragon Motif (Argyll’s) (Item BRITSCOT 3-12; SCOTWEAPON 1-10)
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| DESCRIPTION: Here is a very beautifully designed skein du or black dirk. It is a large one measuring 19 1/2 inches long. It has a traditional Celtic design employing fierce Celtic dragons that do battle with each other. Hidden among the design are symbols on the throat, center bands, and tip. A Masonic compass can also be detected on this tip. The 11 1/2-inch blade has the ripple effect on its backside three quarters of the way down the blade. The boar’s head of the Argyll and Sutherland highlanders is seen on the top-middle band, while the black cat of the Argyll’s is evident on the lower band. They took the boar and cat of the regimental badge and divided them in an artistic way of depiction (very unusual). At the top throat band is the crowned crest of the Argyll regiment. This is the crown of the royal princess. This is attributable to the fact that this regiment was Princess Louise’s Argyll and Sutherland highlanders. They were an elite group that in my opinion should not have served in the British Army. Bruce & Wallace probably do not rest easily in their graves. Scotland should be entirely independent of the Sassenach! Does this make the Brits sound like a bunch of homicidal maniacs? Read Scottish history then make the decision for yourself. My fervent Scottish prejudice is showing, isn’t it? Back to the dirk. It is truly a different and rare piece. It’s wholly military and in good condition. It’s unnamed as to make, but surely well made! The Cairngorm stones are bright and uncracked. We believe this dirk to be WWI era. It’s silver plated with leather scabbard. The blade is unrusted and fine. There is a bonny dirk for the discriminating son of Scotia.
PRICE: SOLD
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Fantastic Fully Enameled Dirk (Item BRITSCOT 3-13)
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| DESCRIPTION: This has to be one of the finest black dirks ever made. We are not exaggerating in any degree. Whoever originally owned it must have been a lord or laird of the land. It is vastly different than any piece we've ever seen in collections or even museum collections in Scotland, such as the one at Edinburgh Castle. It is 17 1/2 inches long, in its scabbard with a blade of 11 inches long. The blade is quite different also in that the piercing runs along the top edge as well as the upper flat part. This would make it much easier to withdraw after plunging it into the body of a fat Sassenach (‘Englishman’ in Scots Gaelic). What a pleasant thought! Actually, the piece when held in the hand because of his design and balance bespeaks violence and combative excellence. It's just the shape of the grip that makes it so deadly comfortable. The hand and fingers fit in just such a way to make the weapon formidable. So much for its effectiveness. The next consideration is its profound beauty! The pommel, cross guard, and scabbard fittings are all heavily enameled with the wonderful Niello-style Celtic design hand cut with black enamel specially set into the motif. Dragons, serpents, and Celtic knots are covering the entire surface of the metal (silver) parts. Only the central grip and portions of the scabbard are of wood and the woodwork is fantastic as well; especially the grip that is carved into continuous knots that look woven, but is carved into genuine black ebony. A little knife and fork that are traditionally found in the kangaroo pouch of the scabbard match it in silver decor and carving. The tiny clip that holds the fork in place is missing, but this does not detract from the looks at all. Now for the greatest innovation that sets this dirk apart from all others: the standard dirk and even some of the best have a leather strap attached at the back of the scabbard with a belt loop to secure it to the waist belt. This piece has two chain suspensions that attach to two silver rings, and they are about 7 inches long with separately affixed links also highly decorated with chain motif in the finest Celtic mode. This piece is so incredible that even the loop attachments that the chains attach to are beautifully and decoratively wrought regardless of the fact that they would under no circumstances show when worn. Whoever made this masterpiece of Scott's weaponry was a master of the craft. On the back of the center band of the scabbard is a group of letters ‘RDMA.’ What it stands for, we have no inkling at all, but the letters probably are the initials of the owner and his title, because surely he was titled. This is a sight to even behold, and should be in a fine museum collection. Its price is nothing considering its beauty and importance.
PRICE: NO LONGER AVAILABLE
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Contact Us
Please refer to item designator in parentheses in all correspondence.
Please E-mail for any additional information you may need.
If you prefer, contact 'Germania' at PO Box 68, Lakemont, GA 30552
or call at 706.782.1668.
Please! do not call during the wee hours of the morning. The best time for calling us is between 9 and 11 am and between 9 and 11 pm eastern time.
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