Lot 713: A Trio of Antique Hammered Brass Steel and Iron Household and Sporting Items
A trio of antique hammered brass, steel and iron household and sporting items, comprising a bed warmer, a fencing foil and a pair of horse hames. The bed warmer features a circular brass pan with a decorative hammered texture to the lid and base, fitted with a hinged lid and mounted on a long, turned wooden handle. The fencing foil is constructed with a square-section tapering steel blade and a circular disk guard, featuring a ribbed grip with a dark finish and a decorative brass pommel. Marks are present on the foil blade near the guard but are obscured by heavy corrosion and are not legible; a small white adhesive label is affixed to the grip. The pair of draft horse hames are formed from curved iron frames with brass casing, linked at the top by a short iron chain. They are fitted with various iron components including staples, terrets and black-painted tug hooks. Faint incised characters are visible on the side of one brass-cased hame, reading 1, 7 and L, though the full sequence cannot be determined.
Condition report:
The brass bed warmer shows significant tarnish, surface oxidation and verdigris across the pan and lid (photo 1), with minor dents and scratches consistent with age and utilitarian use (photo 3). The fencing foil is in poor to fair condition, with extensive surface rust, oxidation and pitting across the entire length of the steel blade and both sides of the guard (photo 2), and loss of finish to the grip (photo 4). The horse hames exhibit multiple splits and significant dents to the brass casing, with wear exposing the underlying iron (photo 5). The iron fittings and chain show heavy surface rust and oxidation, and the black paint on the tug hooks is chipped and worn (photo 5).
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