E1258

Five-ball hilted sword, which belonged to Commander Alexander Keeler (died 1831) Long Caption: Five-ball hilted sword, which belonged to Commander Alexander Keeler (died 1831). The hilt of the sword consists of a gilt brass stirrup guard cast with five graduated beads at its mid-point. The stirrup is straight, and extends via a cross-guard to an upturned quillon, which has a disc-shaped finial. This sword is presumably a development of the 'spadroon', which appeared for use by Infantry Officers in about 1786. There is no means of dating the sword accurately but its owner became a Lieutenant in 1794 and he may have purchased it then. Commander Alexander Keeler (died 1831) became a Lieutenant in 1794 and was promoted to the rank of Commander (ret'd) on the 26th November 1830, he died in 1831. Credit line: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London Object: WPN1068 Artist: unknown Date: circa 1790 Medium: gilt brass; ivory; gilt; steel Size: 819 mm x 29 mm Click here to buy a bespoke print of this image.