Western/Southern Europe, Italy, ca. 19th century CE. A beautiful forged-steel display rapier of an ornate style with petite iron scallop shell ornamentation adorning each terminal of the openwork hilt. The double-edged blade exhibits a lengthy form and has a pair of shallow fullers that course down roughly 60% of the blade before smoothing out and terminating in a dramatically pointed tip perfect for thrusting and piercing attacks. The thick wire guard has a pair of semicircular bands flanking the blade shoulder, two curved arms emanating outwards from the front, and an S-shaped guard with quillons arching in opposite directions. The ovoid handle is wrapped with twisted iron wire for a textured gripping surface and is capped with a trapezoidal iron pommel resembling a palmette leaf. Size: 38.375" L x 6.375" W (97.5 cm x 16.2 cm)
Provenance: ex-estate of Eldert Bontekoe, Pegasi Numismatics, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, acquired before 2000
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#159809
Condition
Slight bending to blade profile, with light encrustations on hilt, some shell adornments, and pommel, otherwise intact and very good. Nice patina throughout.