EARLY 17TH CENTURY

Details

A RARE ENGLISH SILVER-ENCRUSTED BACKSWORD
Early 17th Century
With straight single-edged blade double-edged towards the point and with double fullers containing traces of inscriptions on each face, the iron hilt with guard of flat bars, comprising long straight quillons widening towards the rounded tips, the front one linked on the inside by a forked bar (incomplete) to the tips of the arms of the hilt, the tip of the rear arm linked by a curved diagonal bar to the centre of the knuckle-guard, large globular pommel with button, and wire-bound grip, the iron parts nearly all encrusted with running flower-bearing tendrils and human masks (rust-patinated and pitted, silver rubbed and incomplete)

36¼in. (92.2cm.) blade

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

For English swords of this and related types, see A.V.B. Norman, The Rapier and Small-Sword, pp. 97-8, 244, 361, and C. Blair, 'An English Sword with an Ottoman Blade in the Swiss National Museum', K. Stüber and H. Wetter, Edged Weapons, Zurich, 1982, pp. 57-68

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