CIRCA 1550-60

Details

A FINE GERMAN HAND-AND-A-HALF SWORD
circa 1550-60
With earlier broad tapering double-edged blade cut with a shallow fuller on both sides at the forte, the outer face inlaid with a large concentric device in latten, and formed with recessed ricasso, iron hilt constructed from bars of diamond section with the terminals formed as splayed clusters of prongs, comprising a pair of acutely recurved horizontal quillons, a pair of arms with the terminals projecting at right angles to the plane of the blade, a bowed frontal arrangement of paired scrolling bars with chiselled serpent's head terminals joined by a central tie-band to a chiselled serpentine bar, inner-guard with thumb-ring, boldly gadrooned tall pommel, and moulded grip bound with cord and covered with its original leather.
37¾in (95.9cm) blade

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.

Lot Essay

The mark on the blade compares with three examples on the heads of Italian bills attributed to circa 1500-1510, together with another on a spear-head, attributed to circa 1480-1500. See L.G Boccia and E.T. Coelho, Armi Bianche Italiane, Milan, 1975, Nos. 251,252,253, and 142.

The unusual construction of the guard of the hilt compares closely with that of German decorated iron horse muzzles dating from the second half of the 16th Century. Two characteristic examples, one incorporating a talismanic salamander chiselled in relief, dated 1556 and 1568 respectively, are in the collection of the Counts von Trapp, Churburg (CH S259 and S260).

A hand-and-a-half sword with a hilt of related type was in the Hefner-Alteneck collection. See J.H Hefner-Alteneck, Waffen (a facsimile edition of the 1903 edition of the owner's catalogue), Graz, 1969, pl.83, fig.F.

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