Rapière à branches probablement saxonne, Allemagne vers 1610-20. A German swept-hilt rapier, probably Saxon, circa 1610-20. With robust blade of flattened diamond section double-edged and tapering from a broad base, recessed ricasso faced with a pair of shallow grooves on both sides, blackened iron hilt of plain oval bars, comprising a pair of vertically recurved quillons, a pair of arms, the rear arm joined at its head both to a diagonal branch merging with the mid-point of the upper ring-guard and to the base of a small U-shaped ring arched over the head of the ricasso, the forward arm joined to the forward branch of the small lower ring and to a single bar projecting upwards, inner-guard of three diagonal branches joined at a common root and almost forming an inner ring-guard, oval pommel, and later grip bound with patterned wire. L. overall: 104.3 cm - L. blade: 88 cm. A similar rapier is in the Museums für Deutsche Geschichte (W 59.3124), its hilt attributed to a Saxon origin. Another, with a decorated gilt-iron hilt and presumably made for a figure of rank was formerly in the Electoral Armouries in Dresden and is recorded by Norman. See MÜLLER, Heinrich, & KÖLLING, Hartmut, Europäische Hieb-und Stichwaffen, No. 139 p.378, illustrated p.211. Also see NORMAN, A.V.B, The Rapier and Small-Sword, 1460-1820, London, 1980, hilt type 31, pp. 94-5., pl. 51.
Rapière à branches probablement saxonne, Allemagne vers 1610-20. A German swept-hilt rapier, probably Saxon, circa 1610-20. With robust blade of flattened diamond section double-edged and tapering from a broad base, recessed ricasso faced with a pair of shallow grooves on both sides, blackened iron hilt of plain oval bars, comprising a pair of vertically recurved quillons, a pair of arms, the rear arm joined at its head both to a diagonal branch merging with the mid-point of the upper ring-guard and to the base of a small U-shaped ring arched over the head of the ricasso, the forward arm joined to the forward branch of the small lower ring and to a single bar projecting upwards, inner-guard of three diagonal branches joined at a common root and almost forming an inner ring-guard, oval pommel, and later grip bound with patterned wire. L. overall: 104.3 cm - L. blade: 88 cm. A similar rapier is in the Museums für Deutsche Geschichte (W 59.3124), its hilt attributed to a Saxon origin. Another, with a decorated gilt-iron hilt and presumably made for a figure of rank was formerly in the Electoral Armouries in Dresden and is recorded by Norman. See MÜLLER, Heinrich, & KÖLLING, Hartmut, Europäische Hieb-und Stichwaffen, No. 139 p.378, illustrated p.211. Also see NORMAN, A.V.B, The Rapier and Small-Sword, 1460-1820, London, 1980, hilt type 31, pp. 94-5., pl. 51.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
