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An Extremely Rare Sword ('Grosse-Messer' Or 'Kriegsmesser') Austrian, Late 15th Century

This lot has been removed from the website, please contact customer services for more information

Lot 106
An Extremely Rare Sword ('Grosse-Messer' Or 'Kriegsmesser')
Austrian, Late 15th Century

Sold for £ 24,675 (US$ 30,817) inc. premium

Antique Arms & Armour

27 Nov 2003, 14:00 GMT

London, Knightsbridge

An Extremely Rare Sword ('Grosse-Messer' Or 'Kriegsmesser')
Austrian, Late 15th Century With long broad falchion-like blade double-edged at the point, cut with a narrow fuller over most of its length along the back-edge and struck with a mark on one side, iron hilt comprising straight quillons of tapering circular section each with a double turn at the ends, upturned fluted side-guard of fishtail form riveted through the pointed quillon-block, beak-shaped pommel widely fluted on each side, and long slightly curved grip fluted en suite and covered with velum (light rust patination overall)

Footnotes

  • The best-known sword of this type is the one made for the Emperor Maximilian by Hans Sumersperger of Hall in the Tyrol in 1496. Similar swords called Kriegsmesser are depicted being carried by swordsmen in Hans Burgkmair's famous woodcut series The Triumph of Maximilian, published about 1515, No. 38 (see back cover illustration) and seem to have been used by the Imperial guard in Vienna under the Emperors Frederick III and Maximilian I. For more information see O. Gamber, Die Mittelalterlichen Blankwaffen der Wiener Waffensammlung, Jahrbuch der Kunsthistorischen Sammlungen In Wien, vol. 57, 1961, pp. 30-33. For a very similar sword struck with the same mark see Lionello G. Boccia and Eduardo T. Coelho, Armi Bianche Italiane, 1975, No. 134 (illustrated), p. 340
An Extremely Rare Sword ('Grosse-Messer' Or 'Kriegsmesser') Austrian, Late 15th Century
An Extremely Rare Sword ('Grosse-Messer' Or 'Kriegsmesser') Austrian, Late 15th Century
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This sale is now finished. If you are interested in consigning in future sales, please contact the specialist department. If you have queries about lots purchased in this sale, please contact customer services.

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ALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.

If you have any complaints or questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest customer services team.

Buyers' Premium and Charges

For all Sales categories, buyer's premium excluding Cars, Motorbikes, Wine, Whisky and Coin & Medal sales, will be as follows:

Buyer's Premium Rates
27.5% on the first £20,000 of the hammer price;
26% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £20,000 up to and including £700,000;
20% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £700,000 up to and including £4,500,000;
and 14.5% of the hammer price of any amounts in excess of £4,500,000.

VAT at the current rate of 20% will be added to the Buyer's Premium and charges excluding Artists Resale Right.

Payment Notices

For payment information please refer to the sale catalogue.

Shipping Notices

For information and estimates on domestic and international shipping as well as export licences please contact Bonhams Shipping Department.

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