A German Basket-Hilted Backsword
134
A German Basket-Hilted Backsword
Late 16th Century
With associated broad tapering blade double-edged over half its length to the point and cut with a shallow fuller between incised lines over most of its length along the back on each side, each fuller stamped 'Iohanes' three times, the forte on one side struck with a bladesmith's mark, a castle (?), the hilt comprising quillons of circular section with recurved ends and 'mulberry' terminal knops, symmetrical hemispherical basket-guard formed of scrolled and linked slender bars of circular section above a solid slightly upcurved base-plate pierced with circular holes either side of the quillons, thumb-ring, mushroom-shaped 'mulberry' pommel with button finial, and fishskin-covered grip (some pitting)
99 cm. blade
Sold for £4,375 inc. premium

Footnotes

  • Hilts of this general type are particularly associated with Scandinavia, and are clearly North European, probably German, as has been pointed out by Norman, though Seitz calls them South European or Italian. See H. Seitz, Blankwaffen, I, pp. 321-25 and 329, figs. 221, 238 and 241; A.V.B. Norman, The Rapier and Small-Sword, 1460-1820, p. 149, hilt 76. For a similar example sold in these Rooms see Antique Arms and Armour, 4 April 2007, lot 237

Category: Arms and Armour

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