A Beautiful, Impressed Twin Head Profile Roman Oil lamp 1st to 2nd Century, Imperial Roman Province Period. From the Time of Pontus Pilate & King Herod, to The Eruptions of Pompeii

Clay with impressed twin busts of bearded men back to back. Footed base. Oil lamps are ubiquitous at archaeological sites across the Mediterranean region. They were a crucial part of life in many cultures. Practically speaking, they were a source of portable artificial light, much like a candle or modern torch or flashlight. They were also important in sacred settings. They were frequently used in ceremonies, given as votive offerings, or placed in burial chambers. Age of the Roman Emperors
Augustus’ rule restored morale in Rome after a century of discord and corruption and ushered in the famous pax Romana–two full centuries of peace and prosperity. He instituted various social reforms, won numerous military victories and allowed Roman literature, art, architecture and religion to flourish. Augustus ruled for 56 years, supported by his great army and by a growing cult of devotion to the emperor. When he died, the Senate elevated Augustus to the status of a god, beginning a long-running tradition of deification for popular emperors.

Augustus’ dynasty included the unpopular Tiberius (14-37 A.D.), the bloodthirsty and unstable Caligula (37-41) and Claudius (41-54), who was best remembered for his army’s conquest of Britain. The line ended with Nero (54-68), whose excesses drained the Roman treasury and led to his downfall and eventual suicide. Four emperors took the throne in the tumultuous year after Nero’s death; the fourth, Vespasian (69-79), and his successors, Titus and Domitian, were known as the Flavians; they attempted to temper the excesses of the Roman court, restore Senate authority and promote public welfare. Titus (79-81) earned his people’s devotion with his handling of recovery efforts after the infamous eruption of Vesuvius, which destroyed the towns of Herculaneum and Pompeii.


Richard Lassels, an expatriate Roman Catholic priest, first used the phrase “Grand Tour” in his 1670 book Voyage to Italy, published posthumously in Paris in 1670. In its introduction, Lassels listed four areas in which travel furnished "an accomplished, consummate traveler" with opportunities to experience first hand the intellectual, the social, the ethical, and the political life of the Continent.

The English gentry of the 17th century believed that what a person knew came from the physical stimuli to which he or she has been exposed. Thus, being on-site and seeing famous works of art and history was an all important part of the Grand Tour. So most Grand Tourists spent the majority of their time visiting museums and historic sites.

Once young men began embarking on these journeys, additional guidebooks and tour guides began to appear to meet the needs of the 20-something male and female travelers and their tutors traveling a standard European itinerary. They carried letters of reference and introduction with them as they departed from southern England, enabling them to access money and invitations along the way.

With nearly unlimited funds, aristocratic connections and months or years to roam, these wealthy young tourists commissioned paintings, perfected their language skills and mingled with the upper crust of the Continent.

The wealthy believed the primary value of the Grand Tour lay in the exposure both to classical antiquity and the Renaissance, and to the aristocratic and fashionably polite society of the European continent. In addition, it provided the only opportunity to view specific works of art, and possibly the only chance to hear certain music. A Grand Tour could last from several months to several years. The youthful Grand Tourists usually traveled in the company of a Cicerone, a knowledgeable guide or tutor.

The ‘Grand Tour’ era of classical acquisitions from history existed up to around the 1850’s, and extended around the whole of Europe, Egypt, the Ottoman Empire, and the Holy Land.  read more

Code: 23747

A Former Helmet Created From a Helmet in the Royal Collection. A Victorian, Italian Morion Helmet, Probably From Milan, Circa 1544. Likely Created by Instruction From The Curators Of the Royal Collection In Around 1873

This is likely a unique copy made in the 19th century directly from a fabulous helmet in the Royal Collection, in the Round Tower at Windsor Castle, and believed to be from the personal collection of King George IIIrd. Naturally as the original would never become available this is a unique opportunity to own a simulacrum from Her Majesty’s armoury. This stunning helmet was made in the 19th century using the incredibly advanced copper electrotype system with fully faithful and exact detail from the royal helmet. A system so exact in its ability to recreate an identical version of the original, it was considered by some to be a magical marvel. It has a slightly misshapen damage at the comb. The plume holder etched with a religious scene (possibly the Trinity) and the inscription LAVDAMVS TE (We praise Thee) . In the Round Tower at Windsor Castle in 1904. The collection of George III included ‘A Helmet English, Very Ancient Made of Iron – Embossed with Scrolls – Stars and Leaves had formerly been Gilt’, which was sent to the armoury from Buckingham House on 20 September 1821.

Item no. 2048 in the North Corridor Inventory, which records the arrangement of the Collection at Windsor Castle. We believe it was most likely made by instruction from the curators of the Royal Collection, that commissioned a identical copy made, possibly for the national museum collection, such as the amazing plaster copies of unique worldwide masterpieces in the V&A. Opened in 1873, the Cast Courts display copies of some of the world's most significant works of art reproduced in plaster, electrotype, photography, and digital media. The cast collection is famous for including reproductions of Michelangelo's David, Trajan's Column, and Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise, amongst many others. Electrotyping was an incredible chemical method for forming metal parts that exactly reproduce a model. The method was invented by Moritz von Jacobi in Russia in 1838, and was immediately adopted for applications in printing and several other fields. As described in a treatise, electrotyping produces "an exact facsimile of any object having an irregular surface, whether it be an engraved steel- or copper-plate, a wood-cut, or a form of set-up type, to be used for printing; or a medal, medallion, statue, bust, or even a natural object, for art purposes." In art, several important "bronze" sculptures created in the 19th century are actually electrotyped copper, and not bronze at all One of the earliest documented large-scale (1.67 metres (5.5 ft)) electrotype sculptures was John Evan Thomas's Death of Tewdric Mawr, King of Gwent (1849). The electrotype was done by Elkington, Mason, & Co. for the Great Exhibition of 1851. Link to see the original example http://www.royalcollection.org.uk. The gallery shows a photo of the original Italian morion still in the Royal Collection, but made in iron, however, it was originally fully gilded, which this copy still appears to be, likely in order to show how it once looked when it was originally made in around 1544 in Italy. It is not often any collector has the opportunity to purchase an absolute identical version of a piece of armour in the Royal Collection that was actually made from the Royal original. If the original were to ever come on the open market which it never will of course it would likely be worth six figures or even seven figures 1 million pounds plus due to its Royal connection.

Probably the most famous electrotype simulacrum seen today is the Wimbledon Women’s final trophy. See photo 8 in our gallery.

Tennis fame

The version held aloft as the Wimbledon Ladies Singles Championship trophy was made in silver by the firm of Elkington and Company of Birmingham in 1864. This version is known as the Venus Rosewater Basin, and was first presented at Wimbledon in 1886. Every champion since has had her name engraved on it. The reproduction of the basin was made by the electrical deposition of silver into a mould, and used the plaster cast of an Enderlein basin in the Louvre as a model. When it was first created, the Wimbledon reproduction represented the height of 19th century modernity and was at the forefront of technological innovation. The V&A has an electrotype version which was also made by Elkington, and was moulded from the same plaster cast, 12 years before the creation of the Wimbledon trophy.  read more

Code: 23222

A Most Fine, Antique, Original Regimental Embroidery Of the Royal Artillery, P Battery, 63rd Royal Field Artillery, With Crimean War, Canada and Boer War Battle Honours. One Of The Best Examples We Have Seen in 50 Years

Stunningly handsome embroidered regimental wreathed crest, with the field cannon and motto ‘Ubique’ of legendary ‘P’ Battery, and also bearing their later title the 63rd RFA. Royal Field Artillery

Likely stiched by an officer's lady from the regiment. A traditional pastime of the wives of the serving or past serving men from British Regiments in the army, or, by sailors themselves in the Royal Navy was the making of highly intricate embroidery of their regimental colours.

From the doomed attempt to seize the Russian guns by the Light Brigade at Balaclava, to the Siege of Sebastopol itself, artillery played a major part in the Crimean War. The official history of the Royal Artillery Regiment in the conflict is therefore indispensible to a full picture of the war. Original embroidery , made in the Victorian to WW1 period, nicely framed. With Crimean War, Canada and Boer War Battle Honours. The story of the 63rd RFA from 1899; The 63rd lost their guns on the Ismore. They were refitted and joined Buller in Natal in time to take part in the operations about Spion Kop and Vaal Krantz and in the final relief actions. One officer was mentioned in General Buller's despatch of 30th March 1900. The battery accompanied that general in his northward movement to the south of the Transvaal, and a section went with General Clery to Heidelberg. In General Buller's final despatch 2 officers were mentioned. Towards the close of 1900 and in 1901 the battery was employed about the Standerton line, and four guns accompanied the column of Colonel Colville which operated on that line and in the north-east of the Orange River Colony. Referring to an action near Vlakfontein, Lord Kitchener in his telegram of 22nd December 1900 said, "Colonel Colville attributes the small loss to the excellent shooting of the 63rd Battery and the skilful leading of Lieutenant Jarvis, 13th Hussars, and Captain Talbot and Lieutenant White of the Rifle Brigade". 34.5 inches x 29 inches in the frame.  read more

Code: 22530

An Original Ancient Medieval 13th Century, Knight's, Iron Battle Mace & Scorpion Flail MaceHead

A pineapple shaped iron head, with large centre mounting hole, for a leaded chain or a haft. The wooden haft as usual has rotted away, but could be replaced one day for display purposes. This is the type of War Mace that were also used as a Flail Mace, with the centre mount being filled with lead and a foot to a foot and a half long chain mounted within in, and then it was attached to a wooden haft, so it could be flailed around the head. Flattened pyramidical protuberances, most possibly English. Made for a mounted Knight to use as an Armour and Helmet Crusher in mortal combat. It would have been continually used up to the 15th to even 16th century. On a Flail it had the name of a Scorpion in England or France, or sometimes a Battle-Whip. It was also wryly known as a 'Holy Water Sprinkler'. King John The Ist of Bohemia used exactly such a weapon at the Battle of Crecy, for as he was blind, and the act of 'Flailing the Mace' meant that his lack of site was no huge disadvantage in close combat. Although blind he was a valiant and the bravest of the Warrior Kings, who perished at the Battle of Crecy against the English in 1346. On the day he was slain he instructed his Knights both friends and companions to lead him to the very centre of battle, so he may strike at least one blow against his enemies. His Knights tied their horses to his, so the King would not be separated from them in the press, and they rode together into the thick of battle, where King John managed to strike not one but at least four noble blows. The following day of the battle, the horses and the fallen knights were found all about the body of their most noble King, all still tied to his steed. It was his personal banner of the triple feathers that was adopted following this battle by the Prince of Wales as his standard, and still used by Prince William the current Prince of Wales today.

During the Middle Ages metal armour such as mail protected against the blows of edged weapons. Solid metal maces and war hammers proved able to inflict damage on well armoured knights, as the force of a blow from a mace is great enough to cause damage without penetrating the armour. Though iron became increasingly common, copper and bronze were also used, especially in iron-deficient areas.
It is popularly believed that maces were employed by the clergy in warfare to avoid shedding blood (sine effusione sanguinis). The evidence for this is sparse and appears to derive almost entirely from the depiction of Bishop Odo of Bayeux wielding a club-like mace at the Battle of Hastings in the Bayeux Tapestry, the idea being that he did so to avoid either shedding blood or bearing the arms of war. One of the Crusades this type of mace may have been used was the Crusade of 1239, which was in territorial terms the most successful crusade since the First. Called by Pope Gregory IX, the Barons' Crusade broadly spanned from 1234-1241 and embodied the highest point of papal endeavour "to make crusading a universal Christian undertaking." Gregory called for a crusade in France, England, and Hungary with different degrees of success. Although the crusaders did not achieve any glorious military victories, they used diplomacy to successfully play the two warring factions of the Muslim Ayyubid dynasty (As-Salih Ismail in Damascus and As-Salih Ayyub in Egypt) against one another for even more concessions than Frederick II gained during the more well-known Sixth Crusade. For a few years, the Barons' Crusade returned the Kingdom of Jerusalem to its largest size since 1187.
This crusade to the Holy Land is sometimes discussed as two separate crusades: that of King Theobald I of Navarre, which began in 1239; and, the separate host of crusaders under the leadership of Richard of Cornwall, which arrived after Theobald departed in 1240. Additionally, the Barons' Crusade is often described in tandem with Baldwin of Courtenay's concurrent trip to Constantinople and capture of Tzurulum with a separate, smaller force of crusaders. This is because Gregory IX briefly attempted to redirect the target his new crusade from liberating the Holy Land from Muslims to protecting the Latin Empire of Constantinople from heretical Christians.  read more

Code: 22991

A Super Royal Air Force Band Side Drum King George VIth

A super item in nice condition overall. During the reign of King George VIth the RAF gained its worldwide recognition as the greatest and most valiant airforce in the world during the 'Battle of Britain'. Combating the the most powerful and most successful airforce in WW2, until they came up against the determination, heroism and resilience of the RAF. Although hugely outnumbered by the Germans in the Battle, there were 2,353 Pilots from Britain, and they were valiantly accompanied by 574 volunteer pilots from; Poland, New Zealand, Canada, Checkoslovakia, Belgium, Australia, South Africa, the USA, Rhodesia, Newfoundland, Jamaica, Ireland, France and Barbados. Including within that number of heroes, an Irishman, Brendan "Paddy" Finucane, from Dublin County, who became an ace who would claim a total of 32 enemy aircraft. Finucane became the youngest Wing Commander in the RAF, a rank he received at the remarkably young age of merely 21. He was shot down and killed on 15 July 1942. Polish pilots were among the most experienced in the battle; Despite, at the beginning, not being understood or appreciated by the top ranks of the RAF, most had hundreds of hours of pre-war flying experience and had fought in the Invasion of Poland or the battle of France. The Polish pilots had been well trained in formation flying and had learned from combat experience to fire from close range. By comparison, one Polish pilot referred to the close formation flying and set-piece attacks practiced in the RAF as "simply suicidal". The 147 Polish pilots claimed 201 aircraft shot down. No. 303 Squadron claimed the highest number of kills, 126, of any Hurricane squadron engaged in the battle of Britain. The RAF recognises seven aircrew personnel who were from the United States as having taken part in the Battle of Britain, and apparently all bar two brave Americans perished. It is believed that another four Americans misled the British authorities about their origins, claiming to be Canadian or other nationalities. As a sidebar 11 volunteers from America may seem to be a somewhat small number, however, one must appreciate that, apparently, they were threatened, by the American authorities at the time, that any American serviceman who volunteered to fight for Britain would have their US citizenship removed and they would be imprisoned upon return to the States. Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's aerial warfare force. Formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world. Following victory over the Central Powers in 1918 the RAF emerged as, at the time, the largest air force in the world. Since its formation, the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history. In particular, it played a large part in the Second World War where it fought its most famous campaign, the Battle of Britain.

The RAF's mission is to support the objectives of the British Ministry of Defence (MoD), which are to "provide the capabilities needed: to ensure the security and defence of the United Kingdom and overseas territories, including against terrorism; to support the Government's foreign policy objectives particularly in promoting international peace and security". The RAF describe its mission statement as " [to provide] An agile, adaptable and capable Air Force that, person for person, is second to none, and that makes a decisive air power contribution in support of the UK Defence Mission". The mission statement is supported by the RAF's definition of air power, which guides its strategy. Air power is defined as "the ability to project power from the air and space to influence the behaviour of people or the course of events" Expected signs of service use. As a footnote for those that are unaware, “Uncle’” Joe Stalin insisted at the end of the war that the incredible contribution by Free Poland should be ignored unrewarded and not even acknowledged by the world. This situation continued for some considerable time but fortunately and eventually the massive contribution by the Free Polish forces was acknowledged by the world and they were given the huge credit they deserved.  read more

Code: 21614

A Fabulous & Massive Antique Moro Keris Kalis, A Phillipines Pre Colonial Style Warrior's Sword

A kalis ( in Jawi script: كاليس ) is a type of Philippine sword. The kalis has a double-edged blade, which is commonly straight from the tip but can be wavy near the handle. Kalis exists in several variants, either with a fully straight or fully wavy blade. It is similar to the Javanese keris, but differs in that the kalis is a sword, not a dagger. It is much larger than the keris and has a straight or slightly curved hilt, making it a primarily heavy slashing weapon (in contrast to the stabbing pistol grip of the keris).

Blade length (incl. gangya): 58.5 cm (23 in.)
Width of blade (mid-point): 4 cm
Hilt length: 10.2 cm
OAL: 71 cm (27 7/8 in.)
Width of gangya {guard} tip to tip: 13.2 cm

This blade is of laminated construction. The ricikin shows a secah kasang (elephant trunk), gandhik, praen (tusk), and lambe gajah (elephant lips). The orientation of these features is similar to the much later forms of Indonesian Keris, although the lambe gajah straddle the line of separation between the gandhik and the gangya, instead of appearing low on the gandhik. There is no sogokan or blumbanggan. Greneng and jenggot are present, and both show wear. There is a single, one-piece, asang asang. The hilt is a single piece of carved banati wood, topped with cushion shaped pommel. The grip is bound with criss-crossing rattan, which also secures the extension of the asang asang. The scabbard is made of local wood and bound with plaited rattan strips. Its durability and sharpness can be comparable to the Japanese katana.

A collection of Moro keris types are archived in the United States National Museum.

Even before the arrival of Spain, the knowledge of metallurgy in the pre-colonial Philippines was neither tribal nor primitive. In fact, it was already sophisticated. Because if it was not, Panday Pira would not have come to be. The blades of these swords are a testament to the expertise of these early Filipinos.

The history of the Philippines from 1565 to 1898 is known as the Spanish colonial period, during which the Philippine Islands were ruled as the Captaincy General of the Philippines within the Spanish East Indies, initially under the Viceroyalty of New Spain, based in Mexico City, until the independence of the Mexican Empire from Spain in 1821. This resulted in direct Spanish control during a period of governmental instability there.

The first documented European contact with the Philippines was made in 1521 by Ferdinand Magellan in his circumnavigation expedition,1 during which he was killed in the Battle of Mactan. Forty-four years later, a Spanish expedition led by Miguel López de Legazpi left modern Mexico and began the Spanish conquest of the Philippines in the late 16th century. Legazpi's expedition arrived in the Philippines in 1565, a year after an earnest intent to colonize the country, which was during the reign of Philip II of Spain, whose name has remained attached to the country.

The Spanish colonial period ended with the defeat of Spain by the United States in the Spanish–American War and the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898, which marked the beginning of the American colonial era of Philippine history.

The scabbard throat have small side elements lacking  read more

Code: 25638

A Rare, Archaic Chinese Warrior's Bronze & Tinned Jian Sword, Around 2,300 to 2,800 Years Old, From the Zhou Dynasty to the Qin Dynasty, Including the Period of the Great Military Doctrine 'The Art of War' by General Sun-Tzu

Chinese Bronze 'Two Ring' wide bladed double edged Jian sword, of tin rich over bronze alloy construction used in the era of the Seven Kingdoms period, likely in the Kingdom of Wu, up to the latter part of the Eastern Zhou dynasty (475 – 221 BC). The surface amazingly still retains a lot of the fine tinned surface. Tinning was used in China from the Eastern Zhou period (770–221 BC), and various methods were employed. A special technique was amalgam tinning, documented since the seventh century BC .

This is one of a stunning collection of original archaic bronze age weaponry we have acquired and we have been cataloguing. Many are near identical to other similar examples held in the Metropolitan in New York, the British royal collection, and such as the Hunan Provincial Museum, Hunan, China. Many pieces we acquired were sold for the part benefit of the Westminster Abbey fund, and the Metropolitan Museum fund. From the Tony Dove F.S.A. Collection, formed circa 1970's, one of England’s most revered and respected collectors, especially early silver, & he was a past honorary President of London’s Silver Spoon Society, and learned joint contributor to many scientific appraisals on ancient Chinese swords

Sword total length 20 1/4 inches long, 4 inch hilt

Swords of this type are called “two-ring” swords because of the prominent rings located on the hilt. this is the very type of sword used by the warriors serving under the world renowned General Sun Tzu, in the Kingdom of Wu, who is thought by many to be the finest general, philosopher and military tactician who ever lived. His 2500 year old book on the methods of warfare, tactics and psychology are still taught and highly revered in practically every officer training college throughout the world.
We show a painting in the gallery of a chariot charge by a Zhou dynasty warrior armed with this very form of sword. We also show a photograph of warriors the world renown Chinese Tomb Army, discovered and excavated over the past recent decades. The figures apparently show the real image of the faces of each individual warrior of the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, that each statue represents. Each one is adorned the typical combat armour that would have been worn by the past user of this sword, and used a same time as the Tomb Warriors were being created and buried for the tomb of Emperor Qin. China was the name created for the entire country, after their first emperor, although spelt Qin in the English form it is pronounced Chin, hence, China. The Qin emperors last resting place, the tomb and his buried imperial warrior army, covers a breathtaking 56.25 square kilometres, and may take the best part of another 100 years to excavate. By this measure one can see with respect and awe the size and power of ancient China, and this tomb region was created over 2300 years ago. Compare this to the only remaining example of the past recorded, and so called, Seven Wonders of the World, the great pyramid of Giza, it covers just one quarter of a square kilometre, yet it is still considered one of the largest single buildings ever created by man.

The Chinese term for this form of weapon is “Jian” which refers to a double-edged sword. This style of Jian is generally attributed to either the Wu or the Yue state. The sword has straight graduated edges reducing to a pointed tip, which may indicate an earlier period Jian.

The blade is heavy with a midrib and tapered edges from the hilt.
A very impressive original ancient Chinese sword with a long, straight blade with a raised, linear ridge down its centre. It has a shallow, short guard. The thin handle would have had leather or some other organic material such as leather or hemp cord, wrapped around it to form a grip. At the top is a broad, round pommel.

Although the manufacturing techniques used may have varied from region to region, it is generally believed that such tin-rich decoration was achieved by a deliberate tinning process,including cold-tinning hot-tinning (dipping or wiping) the use of a mercury-tin amalgam ,or the application of a tin-rich paste.

In 1965 a similar form sword from the same era was found in an ancient tomb in Hubei, it was also engraved with seal script, but of a different form. The Sword of Goujian (越王勾践剑) is a tin bronze sword, renowned for its unusual sharpness, intricate design and resistance to tarnish rarely seen in artifacts of similar age. The sword is generally attributed to Goujian, one of the last kings of Yue during the Spring and Autumn period.
On one side of the Hubei sword’s blade, two columns of text are visible. Eight characters are written in an ancient script, now known as Bird-worm seal script (literally "birds and worms characters", owing to the intricate decorations of the defining strokes), a variant of seal script. Initial analysis of the text deciphered six of the characters, "King of Yue" (越王) and "made this sword for his personal use" (自作用劍). The remaining two characters were assumed to be the name of the particular King of Yue.

The Seven Kingdom or Warring States period in Chinese history was one of instability and conflict between many smaller Kingdom-states. The period officially ended when China was unified under the first Emperor of China, Qin pronounced Chin Shi Huang Di in 221 BC. It is from him that China gained its name.

The Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE) was among the most culturally significant of the early Chinese dynasties and the longest lasting of any in China's history, divided into two periods: Western Zhou (1046-771 BCE) and Eastern Zhou (771-256 BCE). It followed the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600-1046 BCE), and preceded the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE, pronounced “chin”) which gave China its name.

In the early years of the Spring and Autumn Period, (770-476 BC) chivalry in battle was still observed and all seven states used the same tactics resulting in a series of stalemates since, whenever one engaged with another in battle, neither could gain an advantage. In time, this repetition of seemingly endless, and completely futile, warfare became simply the way of life for the people of China during the era now referred to as the Warring States Period. The famous work The Art of War by Sun-Tzu (l. c. 500 BCE) was written during this time, recording precepts and tactics one could use to gain advantage over an opponent, win the war, and establish peace.

Sun Tzu was a Chinese general, military strategist, writer, and philosopher who lived in the Eastern Zhou period of ancient China. Sun Tzu is traditionally credited as the author of The Art of War, an influential work of military strategy that has affected both Western and East Asian philosophy and military thinking. His works focus much more on alternatives to battle, such as stratagem, delay, the use of spies and alternatives to war itself, the making and keeping of alliances, the uses of deceit, and a willingness to submit, at least temporarily, to more powerful foes. Sun Tzu is revered in Chinese and East Asian culture as a legendary historical and military figure. His birth name was Sun Wu and he was known outside of his family by his courtesy name Changqing The name Sun Tzu by which he is more popularly known is an honorific which means "Master Sun".

Sun Tzu's historicity is uncertain. The Han dynasty historian Sima Qian and other traditional Chinese historians placed him as a minister to King Helü of Wu and dated his lifetime to 544–496 BC. Modern scholars accepting his historicity place the extant text of The Art of War in the later Warring States period based on its style of composition and its descriptions of warfare. Traditional accounts state that the general's descendant Sun Bin wrote a treatise on military tactics, also titled The Art of War. Since Sun Wu and Sun Bin were referred to as Sun Tzu in classical Chinese texts, some historians believed them identical, prior to the rediscovery of Sun Bin's treatise in 1972.

Sun Tzu's work has been praised and employed in East Asian warfare since its composition. During the twentieth century, The Art of War grew in popularity and saw practical use in Western society as well. It continues to influence many competitive endeavours in the world, including culture, politics, business and sports.

The ancient Chinese people worshipped the bronze and iron swords, where they reached a point of magic and myth, regarding the swords as “ancient holy items”. Because they were easy to carry, elegant to wear and quick to use, bronze swords were considered a status symbol and an honour for kings, emperors, scholars, chivalrous experts, merchants, as well as common people during ancient dynasties. For example, Confucius claimed himself to be a knight, not a scholar, and carried a sword when he went out. The most famous ancient bronze sword is called the “Sword of Gou Jian”.

The Warring States period saw a transition in military styles, from bronze weaponry and chariot-based fighting to iron and cavalry. However, the old period was still revered. Despite the cost of manufacturing bronze swords like this on a mass scale, this particular style of duan jian – a double-edged straight sword – was used in China for approximately 2,500 years. Finely made bronze weapons such as this one were signs of prestige, wealth, and fighting prowess used in both ceremonial and funerary contexts. For example, swords were worn by the Emperor and his officials in ceremonial or official dress, attached to the belt with jade ornaments.

This is one of a stunning collection of original archaic bronze age Zhou dynasty weaponry we have just acquired. Many are near identical to other similar examples held in the Metropolitan in New York, the British royal collection, and such as the Hunan Provincial Museum, Hunan, China. As with all our items, every piece is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. 22 inches long overall.

Ref; SOME OBSERVATIONS ON EARLY CHINESE BRONZE SWORDS
By
Anthony Dove and Alan Williams {The Wallace Collection} 65 publications  read more

Code: 24906

A Fabulous Set of The Rifle Brigade Chronicle, Only The Second Near Complete Set We Have Had in 10 Years, Yearbooks Over 300 Available. Priced Per Volume!

A unique set of original regimental year books published during the past 120 years for and on behalf of the officers and men of the rifle Brigade. Over 300 copies are remaining, bound in regimental green cloth, up to 1967, and containing unique and hard to find information on the Rifle Brigade from the past century. One has a very special reference being supplied by Buckingham Palace sold seperately

For example;

The Rifle Brigade Chronicle for 1916 (Twenty-Seventh Year) compiled and edited by Colonel Willoughby Verner (London...
Title: The Rifle Brigade Chronicle for various years
Author: Colonel Willoughby Verner
Edition: 1st edition
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: John Bale, Sons & Danielsson
Date published: various
====
THE RIFLE BRIGADE CHRONICLE FOR 1938 (FORTY-NINTH YEAR). Hardcover – 1 Jan. 1939
by Major H. G. (edit). Parkyn (Author)
=====
THE RIFLE BRIGADE CHRONICLE
Published by The Rifle Brigade Club and Association, Peninsula Barracks., Winchester (1965)

Buyers may email first direct to enquire for their preferred year, although we have duplicates of years some years are lacking. Some years contain the only known surviving records of the names of the men that served in the regiment. The last set we had, was originally over 400 volumes, all the years of editions published, and 5 original copies per year.  read more

Code: 23385

A Most Rare British Empire Raj Period XII Frontier Force Regt. Silver Cap or Turban Badge

Cast low grade silver, for NCO or officer, with needle pin fixing, which often indicates for wear on a puggaree or a turban. The King Emperor crown of King George, and a crossed pair of choora knives or Afghan Khyber knives. So far we can find no other example, and it is the first we have seen. The more commonly known 12th Frontier Force Regiment in the Indian Army was a Light Infantry regiment, with a bugle badge, so we don't know if this was their first and earliest badge, that was potentially replaced around 1922, or, another XIIth Frontier Force regiment altogether. Either way it is a most fine and intriguing authentic British Empire Raj period piece, but, surrounded by an element of mystery to us at least. The armies of the East India Company were recruited primarily from Muslims in the Bengal Presidency, which consisted of Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, and high caste Hindus recruited primarily from the rural plains of Oudh. Many of these troops took part in the Indian Mutiny, with the aim of reinstating the Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah II at Delhi.

The meaning of the term "Indian Army" has changed over time, initially as an informal collective term for the armies of the three presidencies–the Bengal Army, Madras Army and Bombay Army–between 1858 and 1894. In 1805, the Indian Army began its formal existence and was the "army of the government of India", including British and Indian (sepoy) units; this arrangement lasted until 1902.

Then in 1903, Lord Kitchener became the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, his tenure continued until 1909. He instituted large-scale reforms, the greatest of which was the merger of the three armies of the Presidencies into a unified force. He formed higher level formations, eight army divisions, and brigaded Indian and British units. Following Kitchener's reforms, terminology used for military forces in India was altered, with the Indian Army referring to "the force recruited locally and permanently based in India, together with its expatriate British officers." Whereas the British Army in India referred to the British Army units posted to India for a tour of duty, and which would then be posted to other parts of the Empire or back to the UK. Comparatively, the term 'Army of India', meant the combined forces of both the Indian Army and the British Army in India. Militaria from the British Empire Indian Raj period over the past 30 years has become, extremely collectable, highly prized and most valuable. In many cases the rarer the better  read more

Code: 23703

A Superb Original Antique WW1 Leather Machine Gun Company Munition Case. A Very Rare Piece as Most Surviving Cases Were For Cordite For the Artillery, But the Machine Gun Corps Example is Very Rare Indeed

Part of a Superb WW1 Machine Gunner's Collection, British and German.
WW1 issue. Bearing the royal crest of King George Vth and British Army stamped for the 6th, 261 Machine Gun Company 6 261 MGC. Substantially strong and robust hardened buffalo hide. This is a particularly rare type, not the usual Royal Artillery version.
It is of very heavy grade solid leather, that is top, bottom and side, brass seam riveted, and with a wide leather carrying strap at the rear. The more common version used by the British army was a cordite carrier type, that are plain, lightweight and have no rivets, cork lined and are wide rim banded top and bottom. At the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, the tactical potential of machine guns was not appreciated by the British armed forces. The prevalent attitude of senior ranks at the outbreak of the Great War can be summed up by the opinion of an officer (albeit expressed a decade earlier) that a single battery of machine guns per army corps was a sufficient level of issue.
Despite the evidence of fighting in Manchuria (1905 onwards) the Army therefore went to war with each infantry battalion and cavalry regiment containing a machine gun section of just two guns.
These organic (embedded) units were supplemented in November 1914 by the formation of the Motor Machine Gun Service (MMGS) administered by the Royal Artillery, consisting of motor-cycle mounted machine gun batteries.
A machine gun school was also opened in France.
After a year of warfare on the Western Front it was self-evident that to be fully effective - in the opinion of former sceptics - that machine guns must be used in larger units and some commanders advocated crewing them with specially trained men who not only thoroughly conversant with their weapons but who understood how they should be best deployed for maximum effect. To achieve this, the Machine Gun Corps was formed in October 1915 with Infantry, Cavalry, and Motor branches, followed in 1916 by the Heavy Branch. A depot and training centre was established at Belton Park in Grantham, Lincolnshire, and a base dep?t at Camiers in France.
The Infantry Branch was by far the largest and was formed by the transfer of battalion machine gun sections to the MGC. These sections were grouped into Brigade Machine Gun Companies, three per division. New companies were raised at Grantham. In 1917, a fourth company was added to each division. In February and March 1918, the four companies in each division were formed into a Machine Gun Battalion.
The Guards Division formed its own machine gun support unit, the Guards Machine Gun Regiment.
The Cavalry Branch consisted of Machine Gun Squadrons, one per cavalry brigade.
The Motor Branch was formed by absorbing the MMGS and the armoured car squadrons of the recently disbanded Royal Naval Armoured Car Service. It formed several types of units: motor cycle batteries, light armoured motor batteries (LAMB) and light car patrols. As well as motor cycles, other vehicles used included Rolls-Royce and Ford Model T cars.
The Heavy Section was formed in March 1916, becoming the Heavy Branch in November of that year. Men of this branch crewed the first tanks in action at Flers, during the Battle of the Somme in September 1916. In July 1917, the Heavy Branch separated from the MGC to become the Tank Corps, later called the Royal Tank Regiment.

The MGC saw action in all the main theatres of war, including France, Belgium, Palestine, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Salonika, East Africa and Italy. In its short history, the MGC gained an enviable record for heroism as a front line fighting force. Indeed, in the latter part of the war, as tactics changed to defence in depth, it commonly served well in advance of the front line. It had a less enviable record for its casualty rate, with 62,049 becoming casualties, including 12,498 killed, earning it the nickname 'the Suicide Club'.
A fabulous and beautiful artifact of WW1 Machine Gun Corps history, that is now perfectly useable as a stunning display piece, or stick stand or waste paper basket. Top section of rear leather strap handle is now detached, but it should be easily repairable. 14 inches high x 7.5 inches across  read more

Code: 20353