Portuguese rapier blades

[Radboud]

Originally Posted by urbanspaceman

here's the last picture: this globe is at the top of a trumpet? in the figure's left hand;
apparently this figure is of some significance; anyone know what it represents? It's too early for Britannia Rules the Waves (1745).

Why do you say it's too early if 'Rule Britannia' is from 1740? Thomas Gill Snr was born around 1743 and died in 1801. He is first listed as a file cutter and maker of watchmaker tools in 1767. It isn't until 1788 that we have a listing of him as a sword maker (along with other things).

On the balance of the evidence it's reasonable to believe that Thomas Gill didn't start making swords until the mid-1780s, meaning the figure could well be an early representation of Britannia.