SWORD Italian or German, ca. 1630. Iron hilt, large, long olive-shaped pommel, vertical decorative grooves. Quillons, one large finger guard, cut wavy line decoration, tapered grip base. Leather-covered wooden grip, four iron clamps. Double-edged blade, German, probably Solingen (L 91.5 cm), ricasso, signed "1583 FRANCISCO PINCHINIO" in four places. L 108.2 cm. Frederico Piccinino was one of the most famous Milanese bladesmiths of the 16th century. His signature was imitated especially by German production centers such as Solingen to enhance their products. Cf. Heribert Seitz: Blankwaffen II, 1968, p. 271. * 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.