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CIRCA 1600-20
Details
A FINE GERMAN MILITARY RAPIER
circa 1600-20
With tapering blade changing from flattened hexagonal section to flattened diamond section towards the point, stamped with the bladesmith's signature 'Pettherr Wirsberch' in two lines within the pair of narrow fullers on both sides at the forte, an orb stamp at the forward end, the outer face also struck with a 19th Century collection mark, 'HZ' crowned, and additionally struck with the bladesmith's circular mark, a hunting horn (rubbed) on both sides of the fluted ricasso, iron hilt of so-called 'Ambras' type involving bars of diamond section with pierced flattened heart-shaped terminals, those forming the inner-guard rounded, the outer-and inner-guards each distinctively incorporating a small sprung-in basal plate pierced with a quatrefoil pattern, that on the outside U-shaped and set between a pair of up-turned projecting prongs, that on the inside shield-shaped and carried below the joint of two bars tied by a moulded rectangular band, with strongly formed faceted pincer-like pommel, and spirally moulded grip bound with patterned brass wire.
38 3/8in (97.5cm) blade
circa 1600-20
With tapering blade changing from flattened hexagonal section to flattened diamond section towards the point, stamped with the bladesmith's signature 'Pettherr Wirsberch' in two lines within the pair of narrow fullers on both sides at the forte, an orb stamp at the forward end, the outer face also struck with a 19
38 3/8
Provenance
The collection mark on the blade is that of the Hauptzeughaus, Oberwiesenfeld, Munich, formerly the location of the Königl. Bayerische Armeemuseum. This rapier presumably included in the 20th Century inter-war period dispersal sales from the museum.
A near identical rapier from the same source is discussed and illustrated in Albert Weyersberg, Solinger Schwertschmiede des 16. und 17. Jahrhunderts und Ihre Erzeugnisse, Solingen, 1926, p.51, pl.XX.
Peter Wirsberg (1) is recorded in the Solingen archives between 1609-28. He was Burgomeister in 1617-18, 1622-23 and 1627-8.
Seventy-six rapiers with related hilts removed from the former Innsbruck Zeughaus are preserved in Schloss Ambras in the Tyrol; of these, a few have pincer-shaped pommels. A single example incorporating a pierced U-shaped plate is in the Wallace Collection (A634).
See A.V.B. Norman, 1980, Op.Cit., pp.85-6
A near identical rapier from the same source is discussed and illustrated in Albert Weyersberg, Solinger Schwertschmiede des 16. und 17. Jahrhunderts und Ihre Erzeugnisse, Solingen, 1926, p.51, pl.XX.
Peter Wirsberg (1) is recorded in the Solingen archives between 1609-28. He was Burgomeister in 1617-18, 1622-23 and 1627-8.
Seventy-six rapiers with related hilts removed from the former Innsbruck Zeughaus are preserved in Schloss Ambras in the Tyrol; of these, a few have pincer-shaped pommels. A single example incorporating a pierced U-shaped plate is in the Wallace Collection (A634).
See A.V.B. Norman, 1980, Op.Cit., pp.85-6
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.