The W. Pitt Scott sword is well published and thoroughly described in the Army & Navy Journal of 18 November 1899. A masterpiece of 19th century Tiffany silver, the Scott sword transcends its status as a weapon and is a true museum quality work of art.
The hilt of the sword is gilt silver and marked “Tiffany Sterling”. The sword is mounted in cast, chased and engraved of the finest quality and was designed by Tiffany’s master artist, Paulding Farnham.
CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN OF THE SCOTT SWORD
The W. Pitt Scott sword shows a skillful mastery of craft and design. The blade depicts motifs of U.S. military and political supremacy. The pommel features the arms of the United States of America surrounded by thirteen stars. The pommel’s front bears the arms of the state of Pennsylvania in exquisite detail. The grip is of the finest sharkskin with the words ‘Liberty and Independence’ inscribed. The guard is formed of an eagle in the round with wings outstretched and the D-guard is a ribbon interlaced with laurels symbolizing victory engraved with the legend: “U.S.S. Olympia. Manila. May 1st 1898”.
The scabbard locket bears the cipher “W.P.S.” and “1898” in raised relief for W. Pitt Scott. Under Pitt’s initials is a superbly executed bearded head of Neptune in relief. The middle mount bears a laurel wreath which binds an anchor in high relief, emblematic of a line officer in the United States Navy. The shape is a dolphin chased in the round entwined about a trident, symbol of the sea god Neptune. The blade is etched and gilt with the presentation to Ensign Scott.
“I am pleased to inform you that this splendid Tiffany sword was recently purchased by Mr. Maksin and therefore it should be available for your personal examination. The Robley Evans, ex. Lee sword has a fine Damascus blade. However, I believe the boldly sculpted eagle guard allows the W. Pitt Scott sword to trump the Evans sword. I look forward to your comments after seeing the sword.
The sword is far better than these images convey. It is in pristine condition and in my opinion well worthy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The sword is a Paulding Farnham design and is even more attractive than the one presented to Admiral Robley D. Evans, which was in the Robert M. Lee Collection. The guard in the form of an American eagle raises this sword above the others in regard to iconography. It was purchased in 1980 from Sotheby Parke Bernet Los Angeles and has remained in a private collection since purchase.”
The sword pictured is in fact designed based off of the historic Admiral Dewey Sword.
The ceremonial Admiral Dewey sword dates to June 1898, when the design was chosen by a committee within Congress including U.S Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Prof. Marshal Oliver of the U.S Naval Academy and Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Charles H Allen.
The design was selected out of many that had been submitted both domestically and from abroad. A year later, in October 1899, the sword was presented to Admiral Dewey by U.S President William McKinley as a gift, on behalf of the entire nation. The $10,000 gift was awarded to Admiral Dewey at the Capitol Building for his decisive victory at Manila Bay. U.S Congress had voted unanimously to authorize the funds for this gift. The sword is on display at the National Museum of the United States Navy at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C.
The sword, which has been nicknamed “Sword of Bunker Hill” consists of a steel blade, and metal body, as well as 22 carats of pure gold. In addition to the above text inscription, the sword features details of oak leaves and acorns, as well as a raised monogram of his initials ‘G.D’. The grip of the sword is wrapped in fine sharkskin with gold wire and decorated with gold stars. Above that, you can find a gold collar with the arms of Vermont, the admiral’s state of birth.
Then, on the pommel, a.k.a as the knob of the sword, there is the cruiser USS Olympia and zodiac symbol for December, the admiral’s birth month, engraved. Last but not least, on the ferrule, which refers to the lower end of the dagger, you can find carvings of gold dolphins.
The famed sword was designed by Paulding Farnham who was the director of Tiffany & Co’s jewelry department. Farnham designed a number of exquisite brooches, trophies (like the Belmont Cup) and ceremonial swords that are to this day, considered highly sought-out collectible items. In addition to designing the Admiral Dewey sword, he also designed the General Nelson A. Miles Sword.
Farnham is considered one of the greatest and most celebrated American jewelry designers and worked at Tiffany & Co from the 1880s to 1908. Many of his world class designs were exhibited all around the world, including at the Paris Exposition, where he first debuted 24 of his iconic orchid brooches.