A large South German two-handed flamberge, circa 1580Superlative, double-edged blade with elaborate waved edges. The long ricasso below the guards with incised ornamentation, an unidentified mark struck into one side. The upper half of the ricasso with the original leather cover. The arms of the quillons with incised ornamentation, angled slightly toward the blade. The ends extending out into stylised animal heads with spirals, two decorative side-mounted spirals on each side. The ridged guard rings entwined around stylised fleur-de-lys motifs on both sides. Stepped grip with three ornamental ridges, the wood rotten, with areas of worming. The lower third is a modern wood replacement, the centre section with original leather cover (small imperfections), the upper third with the original textile winding (losses to the fabric). Double tapered pommel, the ribs struck with leaf decoration. Length 188 cm.Provenance: Estate of Dr. Heinrich Tanner in Herisau (Switzerland). Illustrated in: Flammberg-Schwerter, Katalog der Sonderausstellung in der Festung Heldsberg, St. Margrethen, Herisau 2005, p. 20 f. Auction Fischer/Lucerne, June 1962, previously in the Conte Bruzzo collection.Condition: II +