A rare transitional Venetian form of swepthilt rapier. The fine brass “cat’s head†pommel elaborately embellished with an angel’s head, with corded wooden grip. The hilt wrought with traditional complex profiled and line-engraved steel branches and integral thumbring, and introducing a long, narrow guard with beaded terminals and long, narrow, double-edged, bifullered blade of flattened diamond section with continuously tapering tip. First half of the 17th century. Guard slightly loose, age toning. Overall length 103.5 cm. _x000D_
Condition III_x000D_