Dress Sword and Scabbard
Object detail
Description
Dress sword, sling sword, straight, triangular cross-section blade, hollow ground, with point but no cutting edge. Oval shell guard of cut steel. Sword features decorative raised, facetted balls along the handle, pommel and guard, with three stars on the guard.Sword hilt and scabbard throat and foot are gilded. A decorative guilt ribbon and guilt ball are associated with the sword.
Classification
ARMS & ARMOUR Edged weapons sword ~ cutlass
Maker
Measurements
Sword: L930 x W110 x H60 mm
Scabbard:L800 X W24 X h20 mm
Ribbon: L300 x W18 mm
tassel ball: L74 x W35 x H35 mm
Scabbard:L800 X W24 X h20 mm
Ribbon: L300 x W18 mm
tassel ball: L74 x W35 x H35 mm
Media/Materials description
Steel, leather, felt, wire, gold.
Signature/Marks
SKINNER \ & Co \ JERMYN \ St \ LONDON
History and use
This sword was part of the uniform worn by Sir Samuel Griffith on ceremonial occasions. Sir Samuel Griffith (1845-1920) held numerous positions including Attorney General, Premier in 1883 and 1890, Chief Justice of Queensland, Lieutenant Governor of Queensland, and Chief Justice of Australia. He married Julia Thompson (later referred to as Lady Griffith) of Maitland, NSW in July, 1870. They had six children, Mary, Llewellyn (Llew), helen (Nellie), Edward (Percy), Alice (Gwen) and Edith (Edie). In 1886 he was made Knight Commander of St Michael and St George, and in 1895 Grand Companion. In 1875 as Attorney General he introduced the State Education Act, which provided free primary school education for all Queensland children. In the following year he was appointed Secretary of Public Instruction (now Education Queensland). Griffith's illustrious career in the law and in Queensland politics culminated in his role in Federation. Following the drafting of the federal constitution during the latter part of the 1890s, and the proclamation of Federation in January 1901, Sir Samuel was appointed Chief Justice of Australia in 1903.
Associated person
Registration number
H49724
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