Beschreibung:

AN ITALIAN CUP-HILT RAPIER
LATE 17TH CENTURY
AN ITALIAN CUP-HILT RAPIER LATE 17TH CENTURY With tapering double-edged blade of flattened hexagonal section with faint inscription on each side within the central fuller cut at the forte, oblong slightly grooved ricasso with worn maker's stamp, iron guard comprising pierced and chiselled cup decorated with Classical portrait busts and trophies of arms surrounded by flowering foliage inhabited by animals including birds, hounds, a fox and a hare, the portrait busts each retaining traces of original gilt finish, scroll engraved quillon-block, long slender spirally-fluted quillons and knuckle-guard en suite, later good quality copper-wire-bound grip with Turk's heads, and pierced spherical pommel chiselled with flowering scrollwork en suite with the cup 38in. (96.5cm.) blade