Arms, Armour & Militaria
Arms and armour stretches from ancient times to modern conflicts, with weapons ranging from swords and clubs to firearms, armour including helmets and shields, and militaria such as medals, uniforms, flags and ephemera.
Medals and militaria are often sold at auction as specialised categories, with arms and armour sales also held.
Eastern weapons and cased pistols point to high prices
11 December 2017Among the weapons in demand from collectors are Eastern arms and cased pistols, judging by recent auctions. Here we take a look at a few examples – and a specific arms and armour feature will appear in an upcoming issue.
Tibet in the frame from golf to gore
11 December 2017Wiltshire auction house Henry Aldridge & Son (17.5% buyer’s premium) has established a reputation for Titanic memorabilia thanks to two specialist sales a year. Thanks to a lot sold in the November 11 auction, the Devizes firm also has a handy sideline in early photographs of Tibet.
Powder horn from the Battle of Concord 1775 on offer at US dealership
11 December 2017An American dealership is offering a significant relic which highlights the start of the military campaigns leading to independence.
The Animal VC awarded to plucky messenger pigeon Princess comes up at auction in Banbury
06 December 2017The Victoria Cross is the highest British military honour, but in the animal kingdom the equivalent is the Dickin Medal. The award earned by a pigeon called Princess is coming up at auction at Holloway’s of Banbury on December 12.
Pistols coming up at Thomas Del Mar auction show significance of an impressive provenance
02 December 2017Fine quality and condition are big factors in value for antique weapons, but an impressive provenance also fires the imagination, as two lots coming up in the Thomas Del Mar auction on December 6 demonstrate.
Victoria Cross sells for auction record at Morton & Eden and further VC sales are coming up at fellow London salerooms Dix Noonan Webb and Spink
30 November 2017Victoria Crosses are not exactly that rare at auction, despite being the highest British award for gallantry. However, the unique tales of bravery ensure demand is always high, as evident from the auction record just set at London saleroom Morton & Eden.
Antique firearms dealer guilty of supplying weapons and handcrafted bullets to gangland criminals
15 November 2017The conviction of a firearms dealer from Gloucestershire has highlighted the problem of antique weapons being adapted for criminal use.
Auction of Victoria Cross at Spink marks Passchendaele centenary
13 November 2017“I died in hell – they called it Passchendaele,” Siegfried Sassoon famously wrote of the First World War carnage which ended in November 1917.
They think it's all over: football 1966 World Cup commentator's RAF medals up at auction
11 November 2017“They think it’s all over… it is now!” were the perfectly timed words uttered by TV commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme as England won the 1966 World Cup. Much less well known is that Wolstenholme (1920-2002) had a highly distinguished RAF service record in the Second World War.
Union Flag flown by British officer who led Canadians ashore on D-Day up at auction
02 November 2017As noted often recently in Antiques Trade Gazette, successive waves of original American D-Day flags have stormed into salerooms despite their fragile nature, with consignors tempted by the high prices they fetch at auction.
Home Office reloads firearm consultation over legal definition of ‘antique’
23 October 2017Fresh views are being sought over the legal definition of ‘antique’ as police voice gun crime fears.
Major Japanese arms and armour collection offered in Cheltenham auction
21 October 2017A substantial collection of Japanese arms and armour formed by a Dutch collector will be offered at auction in Cheltenham next week.
Impressive militaria at auction and a moustache to match
19 October 2017Apart from having one of the best moustaches you will ever see and a title almost as long as his facial decoration, De Weledg Heer P Lamaison Van Heenvliet put togather an impressive collection of military and related tribal artefacts.
Bomb alerts triggered off at two auction houses in same week
16 October 2017Bomb alerts disrupted two separate northern auction houses last week when the alarm was sounded over militaria items included in sales.
Medals for west London and South Africa
16 October 2017Originally due to be hosted by Rome, the 1906 eruption of Vesuvius meant that London was a late replacement to hold the fourth modern Olympiad in 1908.
Second date announced for Olympia Antique Arms Fair
16 October 2017Hot on the heels of the stands being packed away at the first Olympia Antique Arms Fair – held on September 30 – the date for the second has now been announced.
Export sought for Canadian VC sold in London
09 October 2017An unusual medals sale has led to an unusual outcome. An application is to be made to export from Canada the Victoria Cross group won by heroic Lieutenant Colonel David Currie after it was bought by a British private collector.
Sir Christopher Lee lifetime honours and awards come to auction
05 October 2017He was famous for film roles such as Dracula in Hammer Horror movies, Scaramanga in The Man With The Golden Gun, Lord Summerisle in The Wicker Man, Saruman in Lord of the Rings and Count Dooku in Star Wars. But Sir Christopher Lee’s role in the Second World War is also highlighted in a collection of his awards on offer at Spink on November 1.
Beckwith pistols pair hits the target
02 October 2017Top-seller at guns specialist Southams (15% buyer’s premium) in Bedford on September 20 was acased pair of flintlock double-barrelled travelling pistols.
Log book with Dam Busters link sells in Staffordshire
22 September 2017A flying logbook, which sold in Staffordshire, is the latest in a recent flurry of militaria lots related to the Dam Busters raid.
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