In the style of an Italian rapier of circa 1625, this impressive sword has a 42 1/4 inch slender tapering blade of flattened diamond section widening towards the ricasso and changing profile to flattened hexagonal section with short wide fuller on each side marked with the bladesmith’s name “SEBASTIAN ERNANDES”. The hilt comprises a pierced and chiseled cup guard decorated with mythical figures, classical busts and crowned double headed eagles surrounded by flowering foliage inhabited by animals and monsters, inside the cup there is a guardapolvo pierced with foliage, two long straight spirally fluted quillons and a spirally fluted knuckle guard each engraved with scrollwork, spirally fluted wire bound grip with Turk’s heads, and flattened open work pommel engraved with foliage.

Fine. The blade and hilt are bright with some scattered discoloration and corrosion spotting. The decoration is bold and sharp, and the hilt remains tight to the blade. The wire binding to the grip also remains tight. An impressive decorative example of one of the most evocative types of rapier.