1948 Sword
1948) A VERY FINE MUSEUM-QUALITY GILDED NORTH GERMAN SWEPT HILT RAPIER, CIRCA 1600:
Introduction: This is an exceptional rapier. A highly expensive, ornate rapier such as this one 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. High fashion was an essential status and power symbol during the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance. 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.
Discussion: In an age lacking effective policing, the private citizen was forced to protect himself from society’s 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 from an English Royal Proclamation on 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. The Earliest Illustration of this sword Typology is in a 1588 portrait of John Shirley, currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (#51.194.2). Also illustrated in a portrait of Luccio Foppa circa 1585 by Giovani Antonio Figino.
Description: Norman typology 58. Possibly Dutch, but almost certainly German. Constructed with a swept hilt of iron and gilding with an etched floral vine decoration throughout, a grotesque face at the quillon block, and a pair of horizontal quillon guards expanding progressively toward the outer tips, oval-shaped pommel with eight slight medial ridges equally separated with a pin at the apex of the button, a knuckle guard expanding at its center, side ring connecting to an inner guard of three defensive bars that originate from the base of the knuckle guard and extend to the lower ends of the arms, a straight wooden grip of octagonal sections bound by gilded wire and Turk’s heads, ricasso terminating at the side ring, a fuller blade inscribed with the word XXX TOLEDO and a talismanic symbol of approximately ten notches, with a centerline going through on the outer side of the fuller, the inner side of the fuller decorated with FRANCISCO X RUIZ XXX, with the same talismanic symbol as the other side and a stiff diamond-section blade tapering to a point.
Condition: Very good.
Length: 44.25 inches.
Provenance: A world clas scollector of rapiers who seldom deaccessions his best.
Publication: The Collectors Course On Medieval Arms and Armor, A Garcia, 2022, page 258.
Conclusion: Rapiers of this museum quality are seldom seen in the collectors’ market. This is a rare opportunity to own an exceptional world-class rapier in mint original condition. As you might imagine, this rapier is expensive but worth every penny and much more. You are better off owning one rapier like this than 10 of the average kind available today. Priced to sell immediately!!!*
This is a rare opportunity. ACT-NOW!!!
All my items come with the following:
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I believe you will be very pleased. ACT-NOW!!!*