Hunting Sword Made for the Court Hunt of Saxon Elector Johann Georg II, ca. 1665

Description

Featuring bright 29 ½” tapering single-edged blade, double-edged at the point and cut with
a narrow fuller along the back edge on each side over most of its length. Iron hilt
comprising side-ring with pierced central feature chiseled with foliage, straight quillons,
down-bent rear arm and knuckle-guard all chiseled en suite; the side-ring filled with a plate
pierced with alternate circles and diamonds. The iron lower portion of the grip incised with
foliage between dotted line borders on each side and cusped along the back, the upper
portion of natural staghorn panels secured by four dome-headed fluted steel bosses on the
outside. Blade with small patches of pitting and one small chip to the edge, hilt with rust
patina in protected areas. Overall length 35″. For another example see C. Otto V.
Kienbusch, “The Kretzschmar von Kienbusch Collection Of Armor And Arms”,
published 1963, pp. 200-201, pl. CXII, no. 440. Most of the Kienbusch Collection makes
up the core of the Arms and Armor Department at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Provenance:
Sotheby’s Olympia, Antique Arms, Armour & Militaria, 5 December 2002, lot 35
Christie’s South Kensington, Antique Arms, Armour And Collectors Firearms, 23 November
2011, lot 68