Lot Essay
For a similar rapier please see Highly Important Arms from the Saxon Royal Collections, Sotheby's, London, 23 March 1970, lot 57.
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LAST QUARTER OF THE 16TH CENTURY
Details
A FINE GERMAN (SAXON) RAPIER WITH SILVER-ENCASED HILT
LAST QUARTER OF THE 16TH CENTURY
With slender 40 in. (105.5 cm.) tapering blade of flattened hexagonal section with short fuller on each side at the forte, hilt of blackened iron with slightly downcurved spatulate quillons, large outer side-ring, inner thumb-ring, and mushroom-shaped pommel, the hilt almost entirely encased in silver finely chased with scrolling foliage inhabited by birds and a hound chasing a hare, and grip bound with silver wire
LAST QUARTER OF THE 16TH CENTURY
With slender 40 in. (105.5 cm.) tapering blade of flattened hexagonal section with short fuller on each side at the forte, hilt of blackened iron with slightly downcurved spatulate quillons, large outer side-ring, inner thumb-ring, and mushroom-shaped pommel, the hilt almost entirely encased in silver finely chased with scrolling foliage inhabited by birds and a hound chasing a hare, and grip bound with silver wire
Provenance
The Saxon Electoral Armoury, Dresden.
Special notice
These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.
Sale room notice
Please note that this sword is almost certainly a product of the the workshop of Anton Konrad of Dresden dating from between 1923 and 1938 utilising an earlier late 16th or early 17th century blade. The estimate for this lot should be £2,000-3,000 and not as printed in the catalogue.