RAPIER Italian, end of the 16th century. Blackened iron hilt, pear-shaped pommel, flat rivet head, open knuckle guard. Large finger guards. All guards and braces have hammered surfaces. Grip wrapped with fine copper wire. Double-edged blade (L 101 cm), ricasso, narrow midsection. L 118.4 cm An attractively-designed rapier. The hammered, branch-like guards and braces match an Italian decorative technique found on rapiers at the end of the 16th century in and around Milan. Cf. Simone Picchiani: Le Spade da lato al Museo Stibbert, 2019, No. 92. * The full tax is charged on this item marked * in the auction catalogue, i.e. VAT is charged on the sum of the bid price plus the surcharge for those items. The VAT will be refunded to Purchasers providing a validly stamped export declaration.

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