The Great Sword of Howth  An early antique steel two hand S...

Hammer

€40,000

The Great Sword of Howth 

An early antique steel two hand Sword, with round pommel on a 21" (53cms), upward tapering tang the two cross quillions, measuring 19" (48cms), and one oval ring guard on a tapering double edge blade lacking its tip 44" (112cms), 66" (168cms) overall, as is. (1)

This mighty weapon has been in the St Lawrence family for many generations.  According to tradition, it was used by Sir Armoricus Tristram, who arrived at Howth with Sir John de Courcy in the year 1177 and commanded the Norman army which defeated the local inhabitants in battle at Evora outside the gate of the present castle, at a little river since known as the Bloody Stream.  He was rewarded for his services by being granted the lordship of Howth and changed his name to St Lawrence in honour of the saint on whose feast-day the battle had been fought.

A more sober assessment dates the sword to the late 15th century, so it may well have been borne by Sir Armoricus’s descendant Sir Nicholas St Lawrence, 16th Lord & 3rd Baron Howth, [Lordship by Tenure, and Barony by Royal Appointment] who commanded the “billmen” (wielders of a fearsome chopping blade mounted on a strong staff) at the battle of Knockdoe in 1504, in which the army of the Lord Deputy, the Earl of Kildare, defeated that of Ulick Burke, Lord of Clanricarde.

The Sword is first recorded in an inventory of 1748, and is described and illustrated in Joseph C. Walker’s An Historical Essay on the Dress of the Ancient and Modern Irish … to which is subjoined, a Memoir on the Armour and Weapons of the Irish (1788), while Lodge’s Peerage of Ireland (1789) states, after mentioning the victory of Sir Armoricus, that “The sword, wherewith he fought, is still hanging in the hall of Howth”.

Important Note:

In view of the cultural and historic importance of this lot , the vendors have granted an option to the Irish State to acquire same at a price equal to the hammer price realised at the auction date, should a private or trade buyer successfully bid for same. This option shall be valid for a period of three months from the auction date, and the Irish State ( as represented by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, in conjunction with the National Museum, National Gallery and National Library of Ireland and Office of Public Works) shall have the option to acquire and purchase this lot within this time frame, at the final hammer price achieved at the auction date, plus buyer's premiums. 

This lot shall be retained within this jurisdiction, and collection and shipment of same shall only be permitted on the expiryand non-exercise of this option by the Irish State bodies. A binding purchase contract shall still exist in relation to any private or trade buyer who successfully bids for this lot on the sale date and the full purchase price plus buyer's premiums due, shall become payable immediately following the expiry of the above option period.