Naval Officer's Hangar with Irish Iconography, 1782-90

A naval officers Hangar circa 1782-90 with a slightly curved blade formed with a clippedback point, cut with a pair of long fullers on each face, etched and gilt with trophies, foliage, naval motifs and the inscriptions 'le ville de Paris le 12 avril 1782 ánd 'sandwich le 1782'on a blued panel over the greater part of its surface on both faces (areas of oxidation) gilt-brass slotted hilt, lion head pommel, and the grip bound with copper wire and rib band 62 cm; 24 3/8 blade. The blade of this hangar is probably of German origin. The date 'le 12 Avril 1782' refers to the conclusion of the four-day naval battle between the Caribbean islands of Dominica and Guadeloupe. The victorious fleet being the British, commanded by Admiral Sir George Rodney Kb, who removed the threat of the French to Jamaica, the latter fleet being commanded by Admiral le Comte de Grasse. The extensive Irish iconography on the blade suggests a commission from an Irish officer of the Royal Navy. An officer who had a connection with both ships and with the battle was William Charles Fahie, later Vice Admiral Sir William Charles Fahie KCB (1763-1833) who served on HMS Sandwich 1779-80 was a lieutenant aboard HMS Russell at the Battle of the Saintes and who served briefly aboard the captured Ville De Paris from April to August 1782. HMS Sandwich had been Rodney's flagship 1779- 81 but was not present at the Saintes and Ville De Paris was De Grasse's flagship at the battle. An alternative explanation for the iconography might be that the blade was commissioned by an Irish sword cutler, the selection of HMS Sandwich as representing the British fleet being a random one on the part of the blade-maker. This important sword was purchased at the Thomas Del Mar Ltd (London) sale of 27th June 2012 for 2,600 pounds (with a copy of the catalogue)