Page 196 - Auction84-Book1

LOT 336 Etched Gilded 1610 Dated Swept Hilt Rapier with Relief Carved Guard and Pommel Marked for Clemens Horn of Solingen - During the early to mid-17th century some of the finest blades in the Europe were being produced by various makers located in Solingen, with this example having the maker’s mark of Clemens Horn (1580-1630). Horn is noted as being one of many makers whose blades were imported en mass to England because of their noted superiority to English-made blades. Horn’s “unicorn head” maker’s mark is located on both ricassos. While even plain utilitarian blades by Horn are noted as being imported, this example shows a significantly higher level of embellishment. The lower quarter of the blade is beautifully etched with panels of vine and scroll as well as an inscription on either side, all of which is gold filled. The inscription on the left is “PLUS TOST MOURIR QUE CHANGER. ANNO 1610” or “SOONER TO DIE THAN CHANGE. YEAR 1610” translated from French and Latin. The inscription on the right is “IEHOVA HUMILIBUS SCUTUM NOBILISSIMV” followed by a smaller script “M”, translated from Latin is “JEHOVA IS THE MOST NOBLE SHIELD OF THE HUMBLE”. The guard consists of dual side rings on the right, dual finger rings on the top and bottom, straight quillions, looping guard on the left, and a knuckle guard, all of fluted iron with some floral detailing. The quillions, side rings, and knuckle guard are accented with spheroids relief chiselled with interlocking knot patterns which are repeated on the spherical pommel, all with backgrounds gilded filled. The handle is fluted and wrapped with coper wire The overall length is 43 1/4 inches with a 36 1/2 inch blade that is 1 3/8 inches wide just above the guard. The edges of the blade appear unsharpened, and the tip is blunted, indicating it may have been shortened at some point. Three other examples of Clemens Horn blades of various types with very similar etching can be seen in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Accession Number: 2010.165), The Cleveland Museum of Art, and The Victoria and Albert Museum. CONDITION: Very good, showing mostly a bright grey patina overall and retaining nearly all of the gilded fill with a few scattered patches of light pitting or brown oxidation, a few light nicks near the tip of the blade, and slightly loose wire wrap on the grip. Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
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LOT 337
Rare Late 15th-Early 16th Century
South German/Swiss Longsword - This
is a solid representative example of a
Southern German or Swiss longsword of
the late Middle Ages or early Renaissance.
Swords such as this example are commonly
referred to as “hand-and-a-half swords” or
“bastard swords” and commonly show longer blades and a grip long enough for use with two hands or a “hand
and a half”. The writer believes this example to be from approximately 1520. The long lenticular blade is double edged with a single fuller for a quarter of its length, two grooves to either side of the fuller on the ricasso. There is a faint, slightly different, engraved inscription on each side within the fuller, possibly in an old Latin alphabet, and each fully ends with a cross motif with circled tips which is possibly a maker’s mark. There is a similar faint inscription on the right ricasso. The iron guard is made up of slightly concave quillions with fluted ball finials, a large side ring on the right with three of the same finials, and on the left a combination thumb ring and both fore and rear finger hooks. The contoured handle appears to be of hardwood with wire and leather wraps and is fitted with a fluted spherical “scent stopper” type pommel. The overall length is 50 3/4 inches, 41 inch blade, and 6 7/8 inch handle. CONDITION: Good, the blade showing a mix of bright grey patina and deep dark pitting throughout which continues to the guard, and the pommel showing a mostly brown patina with pitting. The guard is slightly loose. The handle retains almost all of the leather wrap which is thin and
dry and beginning to come loose. A rare example of a late 15th-early 16th century longsword!
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 338
Desirable 16th Century German Flanged Mace
with Relief Carved Steel Shaft - The 16th
century in Western Europe saw plate armour
reach its pinnacle, and along with it, the need for weapons to defeat it. Two distinct schools of thought were born from this, the first being thinner, stiff, thrusting swords capable of finding and exploiting
the tiny gaps in the armour, and the second being weapons capable of smashing through the armour or
at least causing incapacitating trauma to the wearer. This mace is a prime example of the second school of thought, and became a very popular and economical weapon during the period. The head on this example features seven large flanges, each with a prominent knob, capable of collapsing the steel plates of armour, and there is a prominent finial at the tip. The shaft is also steel and carved with a woven pattern on the grip area and floral vines on the remainder. There is a hole through the shaft just above the grip area with a leather lanyard for weapon retention.
CONDITION: Very good, showing mostly a smooth grey patina overall, darker in recessed areas of the carving, and some scattered light pitting, two of the flanges show minor dings consistent with use. A very good example of 16th Century weaponry!
Estimate: 2,500 - 3,750
LOT 339
Large “JDP” Marked Executioner’s Style Axe - This is an example of a likely 16th or 17th century European axe that
bears the closest resemblance to executioner’s axes of the
period. Weighing in at 5 pounds 9 ounces it is a bit on the heavy side for use as a woodsman’s tool, though it does share some characteristics of “hewing axes” of the time. The blade is 10 1/4 inches long from the socket and has a 7 inch cutting edge, which was likely previously longer as the lower tip appears to have been sheared off. It is stamped with “JDP” on the left of the blade. The long 7 3/4 inch socket is typical of headsman’s axes of the time and have flattened sides, which continue onto the 37 1/4 inch ash shaft. There is a hole through the shaft near the bottom, possibly for a lanyard or hanging.
CONDITION: Fine, the head showing mostly a grey patina with pitting scattered throughout and clear maker’s mark. The possibly replacement shaft is very fine with some scattered minor handling marks.
Estimate: 1,400 - 2,000