A Scarce Lancaster Oval Bore Rifle Sword Bayonet, Sappers and Miners 1855, Shortened Quill Back Blade

Brass mounted hilt, three rivet wooden grips and screw mounted spring would have originally permanently fixed with a rivet, but an improvement replacement of a screw meant an armourer of the regiments could repair it in the field, a fixed rivet meant the bayonet would have to return to the regiment for repair if required.

Two-Band Rifle-Musket by Charles Lancaster, manufactured in London, England circa 1850's. Charles William Lancaster (1820-1878) was devoted to his craft and was among the best England had to offer in the field of firearms making and invention. It was around the year 1850, when he conceived the idea of the oval bore. Indeed, it is very slightly oval, almost imperceptibly and the rifling is very subtle and this rifle could easily be mistaken for a smooth bore. The rifling is also “gain twist”, meaning that the twist gets faster as the projectile approaches the muzzle. He believed that the oval bore was the future form all rifles and cannons should take due to the design’s inherent ability to mitigate the fowling that came from using black powder, as well as their accuracy.

He would put his idea to the test when he entered the government trials for what would become the Pattern 1853. He would spend much of 1852 and 1853 in doing so. His oval bore proved more accurate and less prone to foul than the competition, though the very subtle rifling was prone to wear out sooner with much use than conventional rifling. His system was not ultimately adopted for the Pattern 1853 infantry rifle-musket, but it was adopted in smaller numbers for sapper muskets.


No scabbard overall 20.5 inches long, blade 15.5 inches hilt from ricasso base 5 inches.  read more

Code: 25179

An Extraordinary Document, & Piece of Original & Highly Relevant History Today. A 'Particulars of Claim For Compensation' For The Freedom of 253 Slaves In Barbados For the President Of Barbados, John Rycroft Best & 556 Slaves Owned By John Higginson

An original stamped and dated claim form. For John Rycroft Best’s 253 slaves in St Andrew, plus,, the numerous claims of John Higginson of Barbados

John Rycroft Best was a 'plantocrat' and militia commander who played an important part in the suppression of the Barbados rebellion of 1816, though he was to withdraw from the Barbados Assembly committee which reported on the uprising.

John Rycroft Best
recorded in official record as
‘of Blackmans, in the Parish of St Joseph, Barbadoes sic, President of this Island.’

He played an important role in Barbados Council politics including, for example, rallying opposition to the impending threat of abolition. At a meeting of representatives of Barbados, Antigua, Demerara and Essequibo, Dominica, Grenada, Nevis, St Christopher, St Vincent, Tobago and the Virgin islands, chaired by Best, there were strong protests against the British Government’s treatment of the West Indies, the threat of abolition (unless there was adequate recompense) and praise for how the planters had improved the conditions of the slaves.

John Rycroft Best was last recorded as perishing aged around 73 in a fire and subsequent explosion aboard RMS Amazon. Quite a lot of detail is known of this event, and we detail it as follows;

RMS Amazon was a wooden three-masted barque, paddle steamer and Royal Mail Ship of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. She was one of a set of five sister ships built at the beginning of the 1850s for RMSP's routes between Southampton and the Caribbean.

On Friday, 2 January 1852, Amazon, commanded by Captain William Symons, loaded mail, embarked 50 passengers and late that day she sailed for the Caribbean. In the next 24 hours she twice hove to as her engine bearings overheated. She entered the Bay of Biscay and about 12:40 on Sunday, 4 January, smoke was sighted rising from a hatch ahead of her forward funnel. Captain Symons and his chief officer, Roberts, were quickly on deck and organised crewmen with buckets and a hose to fight the fire. Men started to move hay away from the fire, but after they had moved only two bales all the remainder caught alight.

The fire spread out of control. The starboard lifeboat rescued the five occupants of the dinghy and tried to approach the ship to rescue more people, but came in danger of being swamped and so abandoned the attempt. Amazon was still under way, rolling in the heavy sea while Symons and his crew still tried to keep her course steady.

By 04:00 the fire brought down the ship's foremast and mainmast. At 05:00 her magazine exploded and her mizzen mast was brought down. Her funnels glowed red-hot6 and about half an hour later she sank about 110 miles (180 km) west-south-west of the Isles of Scilly.

On the same documentation are the details of John Higginson of St Philip and his approved compensation claim of his numerous properties and slaves therein, also the details of his claims finalised by his executor for his son, a naval captain, as he died long before the compensation was actually paid.

Details of one claim in public record of John Higginson of St Philip; 288 slaves, compenstion paid £2,491 10s 2d to Robert Richard Deane as executor of John Higginson's Estate

Richard Deane appears as the attorney of William Barton, George Irlam and John Higginson in Essequebo in 1808.

Enslaved persons were registered in 1834 by Richard Deane, as the attorney to John Higginson.

Deane appears in the Slave Compensation records mainly as the executor of John Higginson, the last of the original partners in Barton, Irlam and Higginson, who died in 1834.

Public record shows amounts claimed were £2,491 10s 2d for his Sandy Lane slaves and £3,594 10s 9d for his Congo Road slaves

From public record; 'In 1833 ... Barton, Irlam & Higginson owned a number of Barbadian plantations with at least 1,232 slaves, making the firm one of the biggest slave owners on the island.' They were awarded the compensation for 12 claims in Barbados as executor of John Higginson (q.v.). Deane himself appears to have spent much of his life in Barbados and no trace of his death in Britain has yet been discovered.

Liverpool and Barbados merchant and slave-owner. The executor of John Higginson, Richard Deane (q.v.) was awarded the compensation under 12 awards in Barbados as executor.

Father of Jonathan Higginson (q.v.) and partner in Barton, Irlam and Higginson. Died 21/12/1834 at Liverpool. Buried St George Everton 26/12/1834 aged 58.

The will of John Higginson at present of St Michael Barbados made in 1833 was not proved until 14/12/1840 in London. Under the will he left an annuity of £600 p.a. to his wife Sarah Ann, to be reduced to £100 p.a. if she intermarried, together with his house on Everton Terrace. He instructed his trustees to provide £150 p.a. for the support of each of his children until 15, and then amounts at their discretion up to £250 p.a. for each child until 21, when each was to receive £5000. His son Jonathan inherited his estates at 'Over Peevor' in the County of Chester. He made his sons his co-residuary legatees, failing whom his sisters.

Interestingly John Higginson may well have been a descendant of a Reverend Higginson who was of Salem Mass. during the infamous Witch Trials, and his daughter was accused of witchcraft. The Reverend's son, Henry, later emigrated to Barbados. Henry Higginson became a merchant in Barbados and died of small pox in 1685.

Portrait of William Ansah Sessarakoo, circa 1749. In the 18th century, it was not uncommon for wealthy African leaders to send their sons, like William Ansah Sessarakoo, to Europe to be educated. In 1744, Sessarakoo boarded a ship to England when he was abruptly captured and sold into slavery when the ship stopped in Barbados. His father was able to secure his son’s freedom, and he continued his travel to England, where his portrait was taken.  read more

Code: 24393

A Royal Navy Bosun's Club, a 'Start' or 'Persuader', For Press Gang Duty, Or For the Discipline of Lazy Sailors, With Two Leaden Ends Covered in Naval Cord Knotting

It is a full length stick known as a Bosun's club, cosh or persuader, with two weighted ends, of differing weights, both lead, pear shaped knobs, fully covered in naval 'Turk's head' knotting, called needle hitching. The cane is flexible wood.

The lighter lead weighted end was designed to injure the recipoient of the blow, but nothing too harmful, the heavier was to knock unconscious or worse

A most fascinating piece, and thus reveals the type of situations that it's owner would have had to face both while on press gang shore patrol, and in boarding party conflicts at sea. It could also be mighty handy in the darkened, sinister back streets of all the likely ports travelled by Royal Naval matelots in the Victorian era, such as Canton, Marseilles New York, San Francisco, Shanghai, Port au Prince, Montego Bay, Kingstown, and not least London and Liverpool etc.
Press Gang – words to the song

As I walked out on London Street
A press gang there I chanced to meet
They asked me if I’d join the fleet
On board of a man-o-war, boys

Come brother shipmates tell to me
What kind of treatment they give you
That I may know before I go
On board of a man-o-war, boys

When I got there to my surprise
All they had told me was shocking lies
There was a row and a bloody old row
On board of a man-o-war, boys

The first thing they done they took me in hand
They lashed me with a ‘tar of a strand’
They flogged me till I could not stand
On board of a man-o-war, boys

Now I was married and me wife’s name was Grace
‘Twas she that led me to shocking disgrace
It’s oft I’d curse her ugly face
On board of a man-o-war, boys

When next I get may foot on shore
To see them London girls once more
I’ll never go to sea no more
On board of a man-o-war, boys  read more

Code: 24412

A Beautiful Koto Katana With Full Length Hi Blade Fuller, Circa 1500. Around 500 Years Old

This is a beautiful Katana that has a simply superbly beautiful blade with amost elegant curvature and a beautiful choji hamon with crabclaw. It has 3 mekugi ana [peg holes] in the tang, which is a sign of a really early sword. With a full suite of matching original Edo period koshirae with matching kojiri, and long gold folded fan menuki. Original Edo period silk wrap [tsukaito]. It shows beautiful activity in the hamon. A very nice early iron tsuba with open piercing. 27.25 inch blade length, tsuba to tip. The saya scabbard has superb dark brown ishime [stone finish] lacquer. A samurai was recognised by his carrying the feared daisho, the big sword [daito], little sword [shoto] of the samurai warrior. These were the battle katana, the big sword, and the wakizashi, the little sword. The name katana derives from two old Japanese written characters or symbols: kata, meaning side, and na, or edge. Thus a katana is a single-edged sword that has had few rivals in the annals of war, either in the East or the West. Because the sword was the main battle weapon of Japan's knightly man-at-arms (although spears and bows were also carried), an entire martial art grew up around learning how to use it. This was kenjutsu, the art of sword fighting, or kendo in its modern, non-warlike incarnation. The importance of studying kenjutsu and the other martial arts such as kyujutsu, the art of the bow, was so critical to the samurai, a very real matter of life or death, that Miyamoto Musashi, most renowned of all swordsmen, warned in his classic The Book of Five Rings: The science of martial arts for warriors requires construction of various weapons and understanding the properties of the weapons. A member of a warrior family who does not learn to use weapons and understand the specific advantages of each weapon would seem to be somewhat uncultivated. This fine samurai sword, like all true and original samurai swords, would have been the prize possession of every samurai that owned it. It would most likely have cost more than his home, and would certainly have been more important.
This is just one reason why fine Japanese sword steel, even of this tremendous age, is in such good state of preservation. When a katana such as this has been, for its entire existence, so highly revered, treasured and appreciated, it will have been cared for most sensitively and treated with the utmost respect during its entire life. In many regards it will have represented the only thing that stood between its samurai owner, of which there may have been 30 or more during this swords great history, and his ultimate downfall in a combat situation. The late Muromachi period was a time of continuous upheaval and war. The demand for swords was high and they needed to have excellent cutting ability. As such, Sukesada swords from this time that have survived to this day can be fine pieces.  read more

Code: 23408

A Chevasse & Co Confederate Contract Pattern 1856, 1856/8 Two Band Enfield Rifle Sword Bayonet with Yataghan Blade. American Civil War Import From Birmingham England, by Confederate Supply Contractor.

A British Victorian Export Enfield Pattern 56, bayonet pattern 1856-58, for the two band Enfield Rifle, a Yataghan blade sword bayonet, the regulation bar-on-barrel, model. The blade is 22 3/4", with Birmingham retailers name CHAVASSE(Horace Chavasse), at the ricasso/forte, with serial number and Confederate regimental stamps. And no British government inspector or ordnance marks, just as it shouldn’t.

You really don't see such rarities available in the UK market today, and precious few in the American market actually, especially one that came from the States 50 odd years ago.

We bought the entire small collection from the widow of a 'Best of British Empire and German' Rifles and Bayonets' collector, who acquired them over the past 40 years, and only ever kept the very best he could afford to keep. Act fast they are selling really fast. All are top quality and condition,19th and 20th century scarce British and German collectables are always the most desirable of all. This bayonet he bought in Louisiana in the USA, in 1970's

Horace Chavasse of Alma Street, Aston, Birmingham (1860-1868) is known for his export contract of these M1856/8 sword bayonets to the Confederate States during The US Civil War,

It has standard chequered leather grip plates, and is production four digit numbered 3103, {Confederate bayonets are often recognised as bearing four digit engraved or stamped serial numbers} and it also bears Confederate regimental stamp and number, 'H 247' on the pommel top, with a good working spring catch, and usual wear on the grips, the overall condition is very good,

In 1861 Chavasse & Co, produced the 1853 Enfield socket bayonet under contract, no British government markings or stampings to link with British government indicating that all the bayonets were made for export to America for the American civil war Confederate States.The company was used because of its manufacturing abilities and its connections and successes in sales in the foreign market, markings on bayonet rear edge of the socket, and blade ricasso of the sword bayonet. The mark of "CHAVASSE & Co" or 'Chavasse'. Total manufactured 11,173 of the socket bayonets.

It also details in the records that the 1853 and 1856 Enfield pattern rifle’s socket and sword-bayonet batches, sent to American Confederate States, did not have any British government stamps or markings.
All the above details are from their company records, and the company was based at the Crocodile Works Alma Street, Ashton Newton, Birmingham, England from 1860 to 1869

Chavasse supplied his sword-bayonets and socket bayonets from early on during the Civil War, and it was through this that he became acquainted with William Joshua Grazebrook. Their partnership was formalised in early 1862, and the pair brought a large amount of military weapons to sell to the Confederacy. Their attempt at blockade running was disastrous however, as well as financially ruinous, as the ship, the ill fated Modern Greece was wrecked off of Wilmington, North Carolina in June 1862.

Although some damaged cargo was salvaged by Confederate authorities and sold at auction, Chavasse would not receive any money from the cargo, and his partner, Grazebrook, would soon declare bankruptcy in June of 1863 after the capture of the Dolphin and Nicolai I in March of that year.

Chavasse would continue legal action against Grazebrook to no avail, as the courts determined that Grazebrook was insolvent in 1865. The financial ruin brought on by his support of the Confederacy would cause Chavasse himself to declare bankruptcy in 1868. He died virtually penniless in 1917 at the age of 87.

No scabbard, as is more usual than not for surviving sword-bayonets by Chevasse.  read more

Code: 25178

A Superb, Deluxe Engraved, English, 1850's ‘Adams’ Transitional Revolver With Most of its Original Barrel Blue & Fine Engraving.

6 shot .36 cal. Probably by Robert Adams, though in-named. Some of the most ground breaking work in the early design and manufacture of revolvers was undertaken in England long before the world famous American revolver makers, such as Colt and Remington, became famous for their fine pistols. This most attractive piece is fully, and most finely engraved, on the frame and grip, with a highly detailed micro chequered walnut butt. Circa 1850. A classic example of one of the earliest English cylinder revolvers that was favoured by gentleman wishing to arm themselves with the latest technology and improvement ever designed by English master gunsmiths. They were most popular with officers [that could afford them] in the Crimean War and Indian Mutiny, as this one was used. A picture in the gallery is of Robert Adams himself, loading his patent revolver for HRH Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's Consort. He was also manager for the London Armoury and he made many of the 19,000 pistols that were bought by the Confederate States for the Civil War. The US government also bought Adams revolvers from the London Armoury, at $18 each, which was $4.00 more than it was paying Colt for his, and $6.00 more than Remington.The action on this beautiful gun is perfect, very nice, and tight, but the trigger return spring is weak. In good blue finish with some original 'mirror' blue finish remaining. Revolving cylinder operates sporadically. As with all our antique guns they must be considered as inoperable with no license required and they are all unrestricted antique collectables  read more

Code: 22431

A Stunningly Beautiful and Superb Ghurka’s Antique Koftgari Decorated Silver Hilted Kora

The Kora is the second best but little known weapon of the Ghurkas of Nepal, the first being the legendary Kukri (Khukuri), both edged weapons are national weapons of Nepal. The third used sword is the forward curved blade of Nepal, the Ram Dao, it is only used in religious affairs and was doubtfully used in times of war.

Like Nepal, the Kora & Kukri are strongly associated with the Gurkhas and was firstly illustrated in Col. William Kirkpatrick's work "An Account of the kingdom of Nepaul" published in London, 1811 based on his travels in 1793 to Nepal. There both the Kukri and Kora is for the first time illustrated to the wider worlds public. The Kora was traditionally used warfare and personal protection, but also played and still plays a function in the religious sphere where it is used to behead sacrificial animals in one blow, otherwise believed to bring bad fortune and the sacrifice is considered useless. Thus both a skilled man and a formidable blade is needed, the Kora certainly passes the criteria! Lord Egerton and Rawson share the main idea that the forward curved blade most likely goes back to the Egyptian Khopesh and from there over to the Grecco-Roman world where it was called Kopis. Most authors, collectors and people with knowledge will agree on this, so far it?s the best option we have. So much of the past, its history is forgotten, unrecorded and often only minor fragments remain
Similarly with the Kora (or Kukri), for that sake we only know a small drop of water in a great ocean?and can not blindly focus on only that but gather more info, facts, discuss and contemplate upon the matter to perhaps reach a better understanding. It is believed this is what specially Lord Egerton and Rawson did, added knowledge, expanded our understanding and shed some light on the little known weapons, of the Indian sub-continent, thus it why they can be held in such high regard.  read more

Code: 22405

A 1st Army Intelligence Corps HQ General Staff Officer Medal Group of the British Army 'Desert Rats', With His Slip On Eppaulettes and Cap Badge

Part of a very desirable collection of service items, of one veteran officer, from the 'Afrika Korps Vs Desert Rat' Campaign 1942-43, between Rommel and Montgomery

Acquired with a rare original Afrika Korps combatant's souvenir, of a tunic breast eagle, rare 1st pattern, in blue bevo weave cotton over tan, but sold separately.
From a former Desert Rat veteran Intelligence Corps of the 1st Army HQ. He was part of the General Staff at Montgomery's HQ tasked with defeating General Erwin Rommel's Afrika Korps.

The so called British 'Desert Rats', under Montgomery's command, kicked the DAK's bottoms at El Alamein, and then, with the 8th Army, were transferred to Italy in order to fight from the south right through to Rome.

When Rommel was promoted to the newly formed Panzerarmee Afrika, his command included a number of Italian units, including four infantry divisions. Two Italian armoured divisions, Ariete and Trieste initially remained under Italian control as the Italian XX Motorized Corps under the command of General Gastone Gambara.

The Afrika Korps was restructured and renamed in August 1941. "Afrikakorps" was the official name of the force for less than six months but the officers and men used it for the duration. The Afrika Korpswas the major German component of Panzerarmee Afrika, which was later renamed the Deutsch-Italienische Panzerarmee and finally renamed Heeresgruppe Afrika (Army Group Africa) during the 27 months of the Desert campaign.

On 26 November the Commander-in-Chief Middle East Command, General Sir Claude Auchinleck, replaced Cunningham with Major-General Neil Ritchie, following disagreements between Auchinleck and Cunningham. Despite achieving a number of tactical successes, Rommel was forced to concede Tobruk and was pushed back to El Agheila by the end of 1941. In February 1942 Rommel had regrouped his forces sufficiently to push the over-extended Eighth Army back to the Gazala line, just west of Tobruk. Both sides commenced a period of building their strength to launch new offensives but it was Rommel who took the initiative first, forcing the Eighth Army from the Gazala position.

Ritchie proved unable to halt Rommel and was replaced when Auchinleck himself took direct command of the army. The Panzer Army Afrika were eventually stopped by Auchinleck at the First Battle of El Alamein. Auchinleck, wishing to pause and regroup the Eighth Army, which had expended a lot of its strength in halting Rommel, came under intense political pressure from British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to strike back immediately. However, he proved unable to build on his success at Alamein and was replaced as Commander-in-Chief Middle-East in August 1942 by General Harold Alexander and as Eighth Army commander by Lieutenant-General William Gott. Gott was killed in an air crash on his way to take up his command and so Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery was appointed in his place. Alexander and Montgomery were able to resist the pressure from Churchill, building the Army's strength and adding a pursuit formation, X Corps, to the Army's XIII and XXX Corps.

Very good group. Italy Star, Africa Star 1935-45 Medal Defence Medal 1939-45 Star. 1st Army Bar. The British First Army was reformed during the Second World War. It was formed to command the American and British land forces which had landed as part of Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French North Africa, in Morocco and Algeria on 8 November 1942. It was commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Kenneth Anderson. The First Army headquarters was formally activated on 9 November 1942 when Anderson arrived in Algiers to assume command of the redesignated Eastern Task Force.

The First Army initially consisted of American and British formations only. After the surrender of French forces following the German abrogation of their armistice agreement with Vichy France, French units were also added to the First Army's order of battle. It eventually consisted of four corps, the US II Corps, the British V Corps, British IX Corps and French XIX Corps.

After the landings, Anderson's forces rushed east in a bid to capture Tunis and Bizerte before German forces could reach the two cities in large numbers. They failed. Following that lack of success, a period of consolidation was forced upon them. The logistics support for the First Army was greatly improved and bases for its accompanying aircraft greatly multiplied. By the time General Sir Bernard Montgomery's British Eighth Army approached the Tunisian border from the east, following its long pursuit of Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel's forces after El Alamein, the First Army was again ready to strike.

Supported by elements of XII Tactical Air Command and No. 242 Group RAF, the First Army carried the main weight of General Sir Harold Alexander's 18th Army Group's offensive to conclude the Tunisian Campaign and finish Axis forces in North Africa off. The victory was won in May 1943 in a surrender that, in numbers captured at least, equalled Stalingrad. Shortly after the surrender, the First Army was disbanded, having served its purpose.  read more

Code: 25173

A Very Good WW2 German NSKK Sleeve or Kepi Eagle

The NSKK were the motorized section of the Political SA Sturm Abeitlung, or Storm troopers they were all part of the political section of the uniformed Nazis under the control of Himmler's SS. They were instrumental in training dedicated men for service in armoured vehicles and even tanks and many NSKK members were subsequently transferred or volunteered to the Waffen SS Panzer Divisions at the outbreak of war. By 1943, almost all of the NSKK was on active service with either the Army or the Waffen SS.  read more

Code: 19801

A Fabulous & Huge Antique Chinese Ching Dynasty Dao, a Sword of War. A Sword of Immense Stature. Late 1700's

Large traditional plaited blue cord bound hilt with iron,m circular, disc and rimmed crossguard, and a hammered cushion shaped pommel, long single edged blade, that appears curved but is mostly straight but with a curved and expanded tip end. single fuller, ikely late Qianlong {aka Chien-lung period}, used until the Boxer Rebellion. Most likely brought back to England by a British soldier that either served in the Opium War, or defended the legations at the siege in Peking.

The Qing dynasty (English pronunciation; Ching), officially the Great Qing, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China (1636–1912) and the last imperial dynasty in Chinese history.
It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-speaking ethnic group who unified other Jurchen tribes to form a new "Manchu" ethnic identity. The dynasty was officially proclaimed in 1636 in Manchuria (modern-day Northeast China and Russian Manchuria). It seized control of Beijing in 1644, then later expanded its rule over the whole of China proper and Taiwan, and finally expanded into Inner Asia. The dynasty lasted until 1912 when it was overthrown in the Xinhai Revolution. In Chinese historiography, the Qing dynasty was preceded by the Ming dynasty and succeeded by the Republic of China. The multiethnic Qing dynasty lasted for almost three centuries and assembled the territorial base for modern China. It was the largest imperial dynasty in the history of China and in 1790 the fourth-largest empire in world history in terms of territorial size. With 419,264,000 citizens in 1907, it was the most populous country in the world at the time.

The height of Qing glory and power was reached in the reign of the Qianlong Emperor (1735–1796). He led Ten Great Campaigns that extended Qing control into Inner Asia and personally supervised Confucian cultural projects. After his death, the dynasty faced foreign intrusion, internal revolts, population growth, economic disruption, official corruption, and the reluctance of Confucian elites to change their mindsets. With peace and prosperity, the population rose to some 400 million, but taxes and government revenues were fixed at a low rate, soon leading to fiscal crisis. Following China's defeat in the Opium Wars, Western colonial powers forced the Qing government to sign "unequal treaties", granting them trading privileges, extraterritoriality and treaty ports under their control. The Taiping Rebellion (1850–1864) and the Dungan Revolt (1862–1877) in Central Asia led to the deaths of over 20 million people, from famine, disease, and war. The Tongzhi Restoration in the 1860s brought vigorous reforms and the introduction of foreign military technology in the Self-Strengthening Movement. Defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895 led to loss of suzerainty over Korea and cession of Taiwan to Japan. The ambitious Hundred Days' Reform of 1898 proposed fundamental change, but the Empress Dowager Cixi (1835–1908), who had been the dominant voice in the national government for more than three decades, turned it back in a coup. Pictured in the gallery from the Metropolitan Museum, a Chinese noble or princes suit of armour and silk, with, at his waist, a most similar form of sword of war, but highly decorated as befitting a prince. No scabbard 42.15 inches long overall, blade 34 inches.  read more

Code: 24869