A Fine and Rare French Swept-Hilt Rapier Circa 1600 With long tapering blade (some old rust patination) of slightly hollowed flattened diamond section, rectangular ricasso slightly hollowed on each side, iron hilt of flattened ovoidal bars comprising vertically recurved quillons swelling towards the tips, diagonal side-guard on the outside joining the knuckle-guard, lower smaller side-guard linking the tips of the arms, and inner trifurcated guard linked to the knuckle-guard above, and vertically fluted barrel-shaped pommel with flattened button, the surfaces decorated overall with unusually delicate silver-damascened patterns of scrolling foliage, flower-heads and pellets (some old wear), and wooden grip bound with brass ribbon and twisted brass wire between ferrules 114.7 cm. blade Footnotes: Provenance Ex Corbin Collection, France, and believed to have been exhibited in the Exposition Internationale de la chasse, Berlin, 1937 Christie's London, Antique Arms and Armour, 10 July 1985, lot 56 The silver-damascening may be compared to that on French armours of the first half of the 16th Century, for example the armour of the Dauphin, later Henry II of France, made by Filippo and Francisco Negroli in c.1540, in the Musée de l'Armée, Paris (inv. no. G118) This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: * * VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing