A French Ormolu-Hilted Small-Sword
23
A French Ormolu-Hilted Small-Sword
Circa 1720
With colichemarde blade of tapering hollow triangular section etched on both sides of the forte with symmetrical panels of scrolls and strapwork against a hatched ground, and the figure of Fortune aboard a sailing boat framed by the inscription 'Si je la Perd Je suis Perdu', characteristic hilt comprising double shell-guard, fluted quillon-block, rear quillon, knuckle-guard, fluted pommel with button, and swelling solid grip, finely cast and chased throughout with régence ornament in relief, mostly against a gilt fish-roe ground (scattered slight loss of gilding)
85 cm. blade
Sold for £625 inc. premium

Footnotes

  • Literature:
    Hoffmeyer, cat. no. 117, pp. 111, 155 and 157, figs. 28 and 43

    For a comparable hilt of cast and chased silver in the Victoria and Albert Museum (inv. no. 730-1888), see A.V.B. Norman, The Rapier and Small-Sword 1460-1820, 1980, pl. 121

Category: Arms and Armour

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