RIPON / AGILITYPR.NEWS / January 29, 2022 / A 19th century Russian hunting dagger was estimated to make £200-£400 but reached a staggering

£9,000 following keen bidding at auction house Elstob & Elstob, Ripon, North Yorkshire.

Measuring 18in (46cm) in length, it was of high quality with an etched and part-gilded blade decorated with floral motifs and two scenes of deer in woodland. The nature and quality of this decoration led to a tentative attribution to the Zlatoust arms factory which was founded in the Urals in 1815.

David Douglas, LL.B, Specialist in Militaria, Nauticalia and Sporting Antiques at Elstob and Elstob, said, “Such items rarely appear on the British market. When offered in Russian salerooms or by Russian antiques dealers, the price tag is invariably high. The demand for pre 1917 Imperial items has see an increase recently.

“When I first examined the dagger in question, I saw it as a German hunting knife with unusual inlaid gold decoration. Once catalogued, information began to emerge from Russian sources that it was, in fact, Imperial Russian. Such items are rarely seen so there isn't much reference material to go to for guidance.

“The blade was significant, made of tempered steel and with a very fine gold inlay, suggesting quite a noble piece. Unfortunately, there is no indication of provenance but almost certainly aristocratic or of high military rank. The dagger follows the form of a hunting dagger but Caucasians would have carried such sidearms in addition to a sword in both ceremonial and active service contexts.

“As with most items of such scarcity, the auction world - thanks to internet exposure - brought in the bidding and it settled at £9,000.00 on the hammer.”

For further information, please contact Aoife Forbes, Head of PR, Different Narrative aforbes@differentnarrative.com 07834 608025

About Elstob & Elstob

Elstob & Elstob was founded to create a focal point in the North of England for buying and selling high-quality antiques, fine art and objects of distinction.

Located in spacious, modern premises on the outskirts of the Cathedral city of Ripon, North Yorkshire, it offers exclusive and comprehensive auction and valuation services to national and international clients whilst serving as a regional base for Yorkshire, County Durham, and Cumbria.

Elstob & Elstob is the only auction house in the region to be regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) for Antiques and Arts, putting it amongst the most highly regarded and professionally qualified centres in the UK.

Founder David Elstob brings with him a vast wealth of experience in the sector and has drawn together a core team of top-performing specialists to provide expertise in a wide variety of fields.

At the heart of the business is an emphasis on individual customer service. All clients are treated to the highest levels of courtesy and confidentiality, and everything is done to ensure the best experience possible, as well as the best outcomes.

There are currently six Fine Art, Antiques and Jewellery sales a year, together with a number of specialist auctions including the prestigious Silver, Jewellery, Watches and Objects of Vertu Sale at Newby Hall.  Other services include professional valuations for sales, probate, insurance and family division, as well as the provision for single owner and corporate sales.