1595) MUSEUM QUALITY DECORATED GERMAN PIERCED CUP HILT RAPIER WITH BLADE INSCRIPTION CIRCA 1650: This sword is classified as a Hilt 101and a pommel 66 under the Norman typology.
Description: The cup is decorated with deeply pierced floral/vine decoration, an original grip, and a tapering blade with the inscription….. X IN X SOLINGEN X x…. in a deep, short fuller. The knuckle guard and quillons are decorated en suite with roping, and the quillons swell as they reach their tips. Length: 47.5 inches. Condition: #1.
Discussion 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 but highly effective sword against the non-armored. 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.
The rapier is almost undeniably of Spanish origin and is probably Spain‚ most significant contribution to the Renaissance arms race. A highly expensive, ornate rapier was the equivalent of a person in our day and age making a fashion or opulence statement by wearing very expensive jewelry, such as a Rolex or Audemars Piguet watch.
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 statues is from an English Royal Proclamation on March 17, 1557.
The French adopted the phrase “espee rapiere” by 1475, which later was shortened to simply “rapiere” the English in 1505 spelled it “rappyer.” The Giles Duwes English/ French dictionary of 1532/3 adopted the rapiers 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.
Provenance: From the private collection of a rapier aficionado who only collects the absolute best.
Comparables: Any arms and armor museum or private world-class collection.
Conclusion: An exquisite addition to any collection. This cup hilt rapier is in museum condition and swords in this condition seldom are available in the collectors market. Priced to sell today for under $5K for a quick sale. Don’t hesitate-Act Now !!!!*
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