Friday 28 April 2023
A Shamshir sword, Persia, 19th century, with curved, single-edged, tapering watered-steel blade,...
View MoreLot 471
Description
A Shamshir sword, Persia, 19th century, with curved, single-edged, tapering watered-steel blade, the hilt with cusped ivory grips, the guard with gilded silver repousse floral overlay, the beaked pommel with gilded silver cap, the purple velvet covered wood sheath with silver gilt repousse work fittings, in glass and wood display case, 91cm.
Provenance: Bequeathed to Lieutenant-colonel Henry Lake Wells (1850-1898), the vendor's great great grandfather, by the Shah of Persia Naser Al-Din Shah (1831-1896) for his services to the country. Lake Wells was part of the Royal Engineers and a British Army Officer and civil servant. He went to India in 1875.
Ivory submission reference: AZ2YZ7SL
Lot Footnotes
Wells surveyed routes in 1879–80 in Kashmir and Gilgit for a line of telegraph, and in the latter year was appointed to the Government Indo-European Telegraph in Persia as assistant director. During many years spent in Persia he surveyed routes between Dizful and Shiraz, and contributed papers to the Royal Geographical Society, the Society of Arts and other learned societies, and to the professional papers of his own corps. He was repeatedly thanked for his services, especially for those rendered in the delimitation of the Afghan frontier in 1886, the army remount operations for India in 1887, in the cholera epidemic, and during the revolution in Shiraz in 1893.
Wells became director of the Persian Telegraph in 1891. He was presented by Shah Nasr-ud-Din, with a Sword of Honour, and by his successor, Shah Muzaffer, with a Diamond Ring, and on 1 January 1897 he was made a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire. He attained the rank of lieutenant-colonel on 6 November 1896.
Fees & VAT
Buyer's Premium
The buyer shall pay the hammer price together with a premium thereon of 26% up to £20,000 (31.2% inclusive of VAT), 25% from £20,001 - £500,000 (30% inclusive of VAT), 20% from £500,001 thereafter (24% inclusive of VAT). The premium price is subject to VAT at the standard rate.
VAT
VAT is not charged on the hammer price unless it is stated that there is 'VAT applicable on the hammer price at the end of the description. Buyer's premium is subject to VAT.(ARR) - ARTIST'S RESALE RIGHT
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Exceeding £500,000 - 0.25%
ARR is capped at £12,500
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Buyers intending to export goods should ascertain whether an export licence is required before bidding. Export licences are issued by Arts Council England and application forms can be obtained from its Export Licensing Unit. Details can be found on the ACE website www.artscouncil.org.uk or by phoning ACE on 020 7973 5188. The need for import licences varies from country to country and you should acquaint yourself with all relevant local requirements and provisions before bidding. The refusal of any such licences shall not permit the cancelling of any sale nor allow any delay in making full payment for the lot.
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