Blog Post

THE PERSONAL CHOICE – #3

  • by Barry Aucott
  • 10 Aug, 2017

Tipstaff's and Truncheons

And so we are back! Yes it’s been a few weeks since The Personal Choice was posted, we took a swing on the Antiques Trade Personalities and it worked… once.

Speaking of swing, it ties in nicely to this very blog! Yes indeed folks, it’s Clobbering Time! …19th Century style!

Now you might think that Clobbering Time is a tad going over board, what with the subject at hand, but then you can also make a good argument for the fact that it’s blatantly ripping off The Thing.

I did find it to be more relevant than the phrasing of “Batter Up”.

Despite this nifty little collection looking like mini baseball bats, or even nightsticks or batons. These are Truncheons and Tipstaffs (with one little old Cosh).

To think primarily in this day and age the Baton is just plain black, and part of the general attire of our law enforcement.

But like most things, the further back in history you go, the more flamboyant everything becomes. Well, expect the non-bathing routines and faeces in the street. But I digress.

Yes the Truncheons were decorated for crown and country, the crossed Truncheon designs were to signify the rank of the officer.

They had royal crowns, elegant colour schemes and each one intricately crafted for both style and practicality.

 

As the person who had to Photograph this lot, I can tell you they are as solid and heavy as they look. You wouldn’t want to be getting hit with one of those. You’d like to think they were used in the best possible way, a swift hit to the back of the leg. Though we all know the history of our violent past.

I suppose back in those days the ones who had money, had all the money. So why not fork it out on making your weapons look like crowns?

Gone are the days of old, and of course that is no bad thing.

Thankfully people are still around who like to collect these items, and they have become a very collectable item indeed.

I would like to say that this collection is one of the best collections of Truncheons/Tipstaffs of this nature in Britain.

You can find them all over on Astra-Antiques.com and do keep your eyes out in the Antiques Trade Gazette, as they might just be popping up in there also!

As always check out our wares on the website,

www.Astra-Antiques.com

Give us a Like on Facebook,

www.facebook.com/AstraAntiquesCentre

And follow us on Twitter,

@AstraAntiques

 

Till next time!

 

Dan,

Astra Antiques.

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