EASTERN EUROPEAN HANGER, C.1780-90

Probably Russian or Ukrainian. Of a form often described as “hunting swords” these were almost universally carried as civilian sidearms. The attribution is reinforced here by the decoration of the blade which incorporates a splay of military weapons behind a shield with a large central C, almost surely for Catherine the Great, Empress Regnant of Russia from 1762 until 1796. During that time, most of Ukraine was under Russian rule. The 23” broad fullered blade is of distinct Eastern European form with a stepped cutting edge and edged clipped point. The hilt is brass with floral decoration to functional mounts and a finely reeded and stain-decorated bone grip, simulating stag antler.