Introduction: Swords with skeletal hilts in the past have been incorrectly attributed to being of Spanish origin. This attribution may have been created by the Victorians after seeing more than one example in the Royal collection at the Armeria Real in Madrid, Spain. A sword of this quality would have been commissioned by a wealthy individual of maverick taste.
Description: Constructed with a strong diamond-section stout tapering blade to a sharp point, strong medial ridge, rectangular ricasso tapering to the chevron-shaped quillon block, large modified skeletal fishtail Norman pommel 47, possibly functioning as a bastard grip, cross guard pierced with hollow isosceles triangle expanding to an osculating circle, arms decorated en suite and inner guard of horse shoe shape, with incised line decoration en suite around the edges, replaced wire grip with a single Moors head.
Approximate length: 43.5 inches.
Condition: Very good.
Comparables:
– Armeria Real, Madrid, Spain.
– The Collectors Course On Medieval Arms and Armor,2021, Garcia, page 289.
-Item # 1274 Antique Armor.com (see above picture)
Provenance:
– A world-class collector who was thinning his collection at age 82.
-Joe Kindig Jr. (1898-1971)
Discussion: High fashion was an essential status and power symbol during the late Medieval and Renaissance periods. High fashion was especially important among the mega-wealthy, who wanted to outdo their rivals, neighbors, and peers in the fashion arena. Not all wars were fought on the battlefield with swords, lances, and armor. A non-bloody war was in the fashion and status arena. Fashion also extended deeply to Arms and Armor. The phrase… “keeping up with the Joneses” … is not a new 20th-century concept.
In a day and age lacking appropriate policing, the private citizen was forced to protect himself from society‚ criminal dregs. The weapon of choice was the rapier from the middle of the 16th to the end of the 17th century. The rapier is a simple yet highly effective sword against non-armored opponents. The rapier was primarily a thrusting weapon that could inflict serious injury to an adversary‚ vital organs with minimal effort. It was also an exceptional slashing and cutting weapon; however, the slash was not as lethal as the thrust. The slash was used more as a feint to set up a finishing thrust. The slash was also a dire warning to a would-be assailant of the horrors to quickly follow if he chose not to acquiesce.
Because fencing is more of a thrusting art, it became commonplace throughout Europe to have as long a blade as possible to obtain an advantage. This extravagance in length reached the point that municipalities passed statutes regarding the allowable lengths of blades. Those in violation had the misfortune of having their rapier‚ blades cropped at the tip at the city gate to comply. One example of these statutes is the English Royal Proclamation of March 17, 1557. The French adopted the phrase “espee rapiere” by 1475, which was later shortened to simply “rapiere.” The English, in 1505, spelled it”rappyer.” The Giles Duwes English/ French dictionary of 1532/3 adopted the rapier definition as “Spannyshe sworde”.
By 1550, the term rapier had been adopted to describe a slender, sharply pointed sword designed for thrusting, cutting, and slashing attacks. The rapier now consisted of a hilt protected by a handguard.
Conclusion: The stout shape of this superb rapier conveys a sense of noble gallantry that makes it displayable in any museum or world-class collection without apology. A sword of this quality would have been commissioned by a wealthy individual of maverick taste who wanted to stand out for his taste and character. Even if you are not a rapier aficionado, all early arms and armor collections should have at least one example of a rapier. Priced to sell to the connoisseur of superb collecting taste at a lot less than you would expect!!!*
Contact me immediately to get the lowest price from the owner. Acy Now!!! Swords like this seldom make it to the collectors market place.
