Fine Italian Rapier, 3rd Quarter17th C

Description

Hilt of diminutive proportions, comprising vertically recurved quillons, side ring with scrolls where it meets the quillon block, and upturned asymmetrical shell guard. Spiral grip wrapped with twisted and single-strand iron wire finished with Turks heads top and bottom; Bun-shaped pommel with button. All hilt components are chiseled in relief with a heart motif and raised stippled background. Slender 36” (91.4 cm) blade of lens section with 7” (17.8 cm) central fuller, stamped “INRI MARIA” in the fuller on one side and “INNIES MVRIO” on the other, with other unidentified marks. Very good plus condition, cleaned in the German fashion, with scattered light pitting on the blade. Overall length 42” (106.7 cm). Rapier from the early transitional period of the later 17^th C, showing a gradual reduction in hilt size and blade length, but retaining the features and style of traditional rapiers from earlier in the century.