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A German hand-and-a-half or bastard sword by Melchior DiefstetterMunich, circa 1540-80
Sold for US$16,380 inc. premium
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A German hand-and-a-half or bastard sword by Melchior Diefstetter
Munich, circa 1540-80
Munich, circa 1540-80
Condition: Grey metal showing some scattered light pitting, the blade showing scattered nicks.
See Illustration
Footnotes
Note: For a very similar sword from the collection of the Comte de Nieuwerkerke, see item A481 in the Wallace Collection. The blade markings on that sword, as well as A480, are the same as those found on the present example. Another Diefstetter bastard sword, found in the Armeria Real in Madrid, has a pommel of the same truncated form. As Melchior Diefstetter worked in the Au district, southeast of Munich, the Latin phrase 'In Monaci (Manaci) Me Fecit' on the blade, which translates 'The Monks Made Me.' is perhaps a reference to the coat-of-arms of Au, which refers to the Lilienberg Monastery, situated there.








