The Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund £100 Trafalgar Sword awarded to John Pilford Esq Captain of H.M.S. Ajax, 21st October 1805
Overall length: 39in (99cm) Blade length: 30½in (78cm) Case length: 40in (102cm) Width: 16in (41cm)
The presentation inscription on this sword reads: “From the Patriotic Fund at Lloyds to John Pilford Esq Captain of HMS Ajax for His Meritorious Services in Contributing to the Signal Victory obtained over The Combined Fleets of France and Spain off Cape Trafalgar on the 21st of October 1805”. The curved single-edged blade richly etched and gilt against a blued ground with flowers, foliage, entwined dolphins, naval and martial trophies, figures of Britannia and Victory, crowned arms and cypher of George III, the recipient's initials in a starburst above a phoenix, and the presentation inscription, stirrup hilt of ormolu, the quillons formed as a fasces, the knuckleguard as a Hercules club entwined by a snake and retaining its original gilt bullion and blue silk swordknot, the languets cast with acanthus foliage and naval trophies, the back-piece of the partly chequered ivory grip (minor chip) cast as the skin of the Nemean Lion, in its original foliate engraved scabbard of ormolu decorated
with naval medallions on each side cast and chased with the figures of Britannia framed by the inscription 'Ajax Nelson Trafalgar 21st Octr. 1805', and Hercules with the Hydra, and the Nemean Lion, the open panels with cast, pierced and chased naval trophies on velvet grounds, the two suspension loops in the form of coiled serpents, the chape with a border of graduated beads, the top edge of the locket engraved 'R. Teed Sword Cutler Lancaster Court Strand', in the original mahogany presentation case inset with a brass plaque, “From the Patriotic Fund Lloyd’s London to Lieut. John Pilford R.N. of HMS Ajax 1805”. A secondary inscription on scabbard throat reads, “Presented to Movis D’Omer Jac Aberle Prop Tivoli Theatre March 1st 1878”. Provenance: Lieutenant John Pilford 1805. Tivoli Theatre 1878. Collection of W. Scott Ferris.
