Rare jewelled sword sells for €350,000 at Irish auction
Sarah Slater
An extremely rare officer’s small sword set with diamonds in 18-carat gold was sold for €350,000, including fees, at auction.
The sword, which is more than 200 years old, went under the hammer at Adam’s auction house in Dublin on Tuesday.
The finely enamelled sword was presented to Lieutenant Colonel and later Major General Barry Close in 1801 by the East India Company.
The total diamond weight in the sword is between 12 and 13 carats.
The sword is inscribed: “In testimony of their sense, of the ability, zeal and energy which he displayed during the brilliant and successful campaign, in Mysore in 1799.”
When Mr Close died aged 57, the sword was left to his family, who passed it down through generations.
The sword was estimated to be worth between €300,000 and €400,000.
