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Lot Essay
This rapier (considered by some authorities to be authentic) belongs to a rare group of swords and daggers decorated with gold- and silver-damascened designs of a distinctive type, involving 'matchstick' figures and domed buildings, as on the side-rings of the present sword. Two pieces belonging to the group are signed on their hilts: the first, a dagger in the Historisches Museum, Dresden (inv. no. E 85), by the Spanish damascener, Diego de aias, the second, a rapier, similar to the present one, in the Hofjagd- und Leibrstkammer, Vienna (inv. no. A 586), by 'Damianus de Nerve'. De aias, whose signature also appears on a dagger of different type and a mace, is recorded as working for King Francis I of France from before 1535 until probably 1542, and for Kings Henry VIII and Edward VI of England from 1543 until an unknown date between 1549 and 1552. Nothing is known about Damianus beyond the signature on the hilt of the Vienna sword, and even that does not give the full form of his surname, since the line over the last letter is a contraction mark, though it probably indicates that it should be read as 'Nerven'. He must have been closely connected with de aias - perhaps one of his apprentices - since their decorative styles are so similar.
The maker of the blade, Federico Piccinino was the son of the famous Milanese swordsmith Antonio Piccinino, and is described by Paolo Morigia in his La nobilit di Milano of 1595 as being heir to his father's secrets 'in that he is equally very highly regarded in his profession and having himself held the lead in the fashioning of blades'. He also says that he was still alive in 1595 (see J.G. Mann and A.V.B. Norman, Wallace Collection Catalogues. European Arms and Armour and Supplement, London, 1962 and 1986, inv. no. A 646).
The Vienna 1990 catalogue states that this rapier was described by O. von Leber (Wiens kaiserliches Zeughaus, Leipzig, 1846, p. 108), but the description is of another sword with what is probably the grip fitted to the present rapier.
The maker of the blade, Federico Piccinino was the son of the famous Milanese swordsmith Antonio Piccinino, and is described by Paolo Morigia in his La nobilit di Milano of 1595 as being heir to his father's secrets 'in that he is equally very highly regarded in his profession and having himself held the lead in the fashioning of blades'. He also says that he was still alive in 1595 (see J.G. Mann and A.V.B. Norman, Wallace Collection Catalogues. European Arms and Armour and Supplement, London, 1962 and 1986, inv. no. A 646).
The Vienna 1990 catalogue states that this rapier was described by O. von Leber (Wiens kaiserliches Zeughaus, Leipzig, 1846, p. 108), but the description is of another sword with what is probably the grip fitted to the present rapier.