Lot Essay
This rapier belongs to a group of swords attributed by Hayward to an unidentified Augsburg workshop
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LATE 16TH CENTURY
Details
A RARE GERMAN (AUGSBURG) RAPIER
LATE 16TH CENTURY
With broad tapering double-edged blade of flattened oval section incised with panels of strapwork on each side at the forte respectively framing the inscriptions 'IN DOMINO CONFIN' and 'IN TE ESPERAVIT', some of the letters retaining the original copper inlay, iron guard of flattened bars comprising upper and lower side-rings, arms, and vertically-recurved quillons each with disc-shaped finial, inner-guard of rounded bars incorporating a thumb-ring, spirally-ribbed wooden grip bound with brass and steel wire and with Turk's heads, and slightly flattened barrel-shaped pommel, the outer side of the guard chiselled with bouquets of flowers, foliage and fruit, the quillon-block and centre of each side-ring with inlaid gilt-brass oval panel cast and chased with a reclining figure, the finial of each quillon similarly inlaid with a small circular plaque respectively depicting a cherub-mask and a bouquet of flowers, the sheltered areas of the guard retaining traces of original gilt finish, the pommel decorated en suite with a gilt-brass panel on each side decorated with standing Classical figures
39¾in. (101cm.) blade
LATE 16TH CENTURY
With broad tapering double-edged blade of flattened oval section incised with panels of strapwork on each side at the forte respectively framing the inscriptions 'IN DOMINO CONFIN' and 'IN TE ESPERAVIT', some of the letters retaining the original copper inlay, iron guard of flattened bars comprising upper and lower side-rings, arms, and vertically-recurved quillons each with disc-shaped finial, inner-guard of rounded bars incorporating a thumb-ring, spirally-ribbed wooden grip bound with brass and steel wire and with Turk's heads, and slightly flattened barrel-shaped pommel, the outer side of the guard chiselled with bouquets of flowers, foliage and fruit, the quillon-block and centre of each side-ring with inlaid gilt-brass oval panel cast and chased with a reclining figure, the finial of each quillon similarly inlaid with a small circular plaque respectively depicting a cherub-mask and a bouquet of flowers, the sheltered areas of the guard retaining traces of original gilt finish, the pommel decorated en suite with a gilt-brass panel on each side decorated with standing Classical figures
39¾in. (101cm.) blade
Provenance
Sold in these Rooms, 19 September 1990, Lot 262
Literature
J.F. Hayward, 'Augsburg Swords', Waffen-und Kostümkunde, 39, 1980, pp. 13-14
Special notice
VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 20% on the buyer's premium.
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