A FINE ENGLISH SMALL-SWORD WITH CUT-STEEL HILT, THE BLADE SIGNED FIRMIN & SONS, 153 STRAND, CIRCA

A FINE ENGLISH SMALL-SWORD WITH CUT-STEEL HILT, THE BLADE SIGNED FIRMIN & SONS, 153 STRAND, CIRCA 1780-90 with slender tapering hollow-triangular blade etched and gilt with scrolls, flowers and foliage on a blued panel over the forte and etched 'Firmin & Sons, 153 Strand' in a shield, the hilt formed with numerous burnished steel beads of differing sizes and cut in imitation of brilliants, including oval shell-guard formed of an alternating arrangement of rondels and ovals enclosing the centre, quillon with circular terminal, knuckle-guard cut with beadwork borders enclosing graduated patterns of beads centring on an oval framed by a pair of flowerheads, urn-shaped pommel and grip decorated en suite (the guard slightly bent in places and with soldered repairs, small losses), in its vellum-covered wooden scabbard with burnished steel mounts comprising chape, locket and middle-band, the latter two each with a ring for suspension, 80.0 cm blade The hilt was possibly made in Matthew Boulton's Soho Works, Birmingham and supplied to Firmin for mounting. Firmin & Sons Ltd were established by Thomas Firmin (1632- circa 1677). In 1760 they are recorded at the Wheatsheaf, near Somerset House, Strand, later known as 153 Strand where they remained until 1894. For related hilts made in Boulton's works see Southwick 2022, pp. 4-29.