An Italian Cup-Hilt Rapier Circa 1630 With long tapering blade of flattened diamond section, slightly tapering border engraved ricasso struck with a mark on each side, 'G' within a shield, hilt comprising flower-shaped cup of six petals each filled by a panel pierced with a repeated trellis design of chased trefoils, and linked to the knuckle-guard on both sides by a curved bar of circular section, knuckle-guard and vertically recurved quillons each with large ovoidal terminal cut with chevrons and with small button tip, pommel en suite, plain arms, and grip bound with three differing twists of wire between Turk's heads 113.5 cm. blade Footnotes: Provenance Samuel J. Whawell Collection Charles R. Beard Collection Eric Valentine Collection Literature Eric Valentine, Rapiers..., 1968, p. 36, fig. 24, and dust-wrapper 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