CIRCA 1620-30

Details

A RARE ENGLISH SILVER-ENCRUSTED RAPIER
CIRCA 1620-30
WITH SLENDER SPANISH BLADE OF FLATTENED HEXAGONAL SECTION RESPECTIVELY STAMPED 'DE TOMAS' AND 'DE AIALA' ON EACH SIDE, SYMMETRICAL IRON HILT OF FLATTENED BARS COMPRISING STRAIGHT QUILLONS SWELLING TOWARDS THE TIPS, ON EACH SIDE THE UPPER AND LOWER RING-GUARDS JOINED BY A PAIR OF SHORT BARS, THE LOWER RING-GUARD JOINED TO A SMALL SCALLOPED DISH-GUARD BY A FURTHER PAIR OF BARS, AND KNUCKLE-GUARD JOINED TO THE UPPER RING-GUARD BY A FURTHER BAR, TAPERING BARREL-SHAPED POMMEL, AND SPIRALLY FLUTED WOODEN GRIP BOUND IN COPPER WIRE, THE GUARD DECORATED WITH ENCRUSTED SILVER SCROLLWORK FRAMING CHERUB-MASKS, FLOWERS AND FRUIT ALL WITHIN BEADWORK BORDERS, THE POMMEL DECORATED WITH RECESSED SILVER-LINED OVAL PANELS
40¾IN. (103.5CM.) BLADE

Provenance

ANON. SALE, SOTHEBY'S, OLYMPIA, 15TH DECEMBER 2004, LOT 69.

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 20% on the buyer's premium.

Sale room notice

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE GRIP AND POMMEL ARE NOT ORIGINAL.

Lot Essay

A SWORD WITH A SIMILAR HILT ALSO FITTED WITH A BLADE BY THE SAME MAKER IS PRESERVED IN THE VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM, LONDON (INV. NO. 2753).
THOMAS DE AYALA IS RECORDED IN TOLEDO CIRCA 1570-1625.

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