Lot Essay
The marks on the ricasso are those of the Milanese swordsmith Frederico Picinino
Details
A RAPIER
EARLY 18TH CENTURY, PROBABLY SPANISH OR NEAPOLITAN
With long tapering double-edged blade hollow-ground on either side of a sharp central ridge, the forte decorated with numerous small piercings, the recessed ricasso incised on each face with a mark, hilt of russet iron comprising large figure-eight shaped shell, the rim with prominent fluted flange with central roped feature on each side, small guardapolvo pierced and chiselled with foliage inhabited by birds, large arms, vertically recurved fluted quillons swelling to bulbous tips, and springing from writhen ball-shaped features en suite with the central feature on the fluted knuckle-guard, deeply fluted plummet-shaped pommel, and wooden grip bound with twisted steel wire and steel ribbon
43¼in. (109.9cm.) blade
EARLY 18TH CENTURY, PROBABLY SPANISH OR NEAPOLITAN
With long tapering double-edged blade hollow-ground on either side of a sharp central ridge, the forte decorated with numerous small piercings, the recessed ricasso incised on each face with a mark, hilt of russet iron comprising large figure-eight shaped shell, the rim with prominent fluted flange with central roped feature on each side, small guardapolvo pierced and chiselled with foliage inhabited by birds, large arms, vertically recurved fluted quillons swelling to bulbous tips, and springing from writhen ball-shaped features en suite with the central feature on the fluted knuckle-guard, deeply fluted plummet-shaped pommel, and wooden grip bound with twisted steel wire and steel ribbon
43¼in. (109.9cm.) blade
Literature
A.V.B. Norman, The Rapier and Small-Sword, 1980, pl. 116