28 BULLETIN 16 3, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



some cases extends half the length of the blade and in others the en- 

 tire length of the blade, which is usually decorated with conventional 

 floral and trophy desigiis. The grips are usually 4-sided and are 

 covered with strips of pearl, ivory, or bone and decorated with 

 grooved geometrical designs. 



A sword ^^ of this type of exceptionally beautiful workmanship in 

 the National Museum collection has a 4-sided grip, the upper and 

 lower parts of which are covered with brass strips decorated with 

 floral sprays. The sides of the grip, which are now wrapped with 

 blue woolen cloth, were also probably originally covered with ivory 

 strips. The pommel is a brass eagle's head, the neck covering the 

 entire end of the grip. The knuckle guard is a 4-sided brass strip, 

 the ends terminating in scrolls and the sides decorated with dia- 

 mond-shaped designs each inclosing an acorn and with two dragons' 

 heads meeting in the center. The quillons are of plain brass, the 

 upper one terminating above the blade in the figure of a rattlesnake 

 coiled. A large brass shield attached to the obverse of the blade is 

 decorated in relief with an intricate and complex design, showing 

 a female figure representing America seated ; at her feet are crowns 

 and war trophies; to the left appears the American eagle; in the 

 background stands a pole surmounted by a liberty cap and sur- 

 rounded by 16 stars; to the right appear fasces and a shield. The 

 scabbard, which is brass, is decorated with engraved floral and scroll 

 designs. This sword was lent to the National Museum in 1920 by 

 Mrs. Richard V. Lindebury through the National Society of the 

 Colonial Dames of America. 



Another interesting sword ^^ of this type in the national collection 

 has a blade similar to those described above. The grip, which is 

 square, is faced with strips of ivory and brass. The pommel ter- 

 minates in an eagle's head. The knuckle guard is a brass strip dec- 

 orated with floral and scroll design, and both quillons terminate in 

 the head of a monster. The large oval-shaped shield attached to the 

 obverse of the quillon bears the figure of Columbia seated to the 

 left, with the United States arms on her right and a group of trophies 

 on her left; above appears a circle of 15 stars below a scroll. This 

 sword was acquired by the National Museum in 1928 from John A. 

 Sachse. 



Among the swords in the National Museum collection belonging 

 to Group 2 of this series is a specimen of unusual interest.^* The 

 blade is oval in form, and each side is decorated with the arms of 

 the United States and a series of floral sprays. The grip, which is 

 4-sided, is made of ivory with carved designs at each end repre- 



^ Length, 94.5 cm. Blade, 82.5 cm. long, 2 cm. wide. PI. 5, fig. 2. 

 ^ Length, 91.8 cm. Blade, 79 cm. long, 2 cm. wide. PI. 5, fig. 3. 

 ^ Length, 91 cm. Blade, 78.5 cm. long, 2 cm. wide. PI. 5, fig. 6. 



