A Late Victorian Naval Officer’s Presentation Dirk, the 49 cm blued and gilded blade by E.Thurkle, London, the four blue and gilt panels contain foliate scrolling, a central presentation area states ‘Chief Captain’s Prize Awarded To Mr. W.W.Sillem HMS Britannia August 1897’, the blade etched on the other side with a crowned anchor, the swept gilt brass cross piece with acorn finials and mounted with a gilt badge being laurels enclosing a crowned anchor, white fish skin wire bound grip, gilt metal lion’s head pommel and flowing mane back strap, contained in its black leather gilt brass mounted scabbard, sold together with photostat copies concerning Sillem’s career, the blade with some rust patches, the carrying ring lacking from the lion’s head pommel and the scabbard mounts heavily polished £160-260

Note: The paperwork includes details concerning Sillem’s date of birth which is estimated at about 1882 and that he was born in San Francisco, United States of America. If this is so he was presented with his dirk aged 15.