AN ENGLISH TRANSITIONAL RAPIER C.1660-80

The iron hilt of this sword is encrusted in silver including a central motif of cherub faces on a splay of arms, suggesting that it was made for a military officer, possibly of noble descent.  The balance of the decoration repeats the theme within pellet borders containing scrolling foliage.  The decoration is specifically of the fashion popular in England at the time.  The blade decoration includes an oval panel each side inscribed London.  The hilt form portends the smallswords which followed with conjoined shell guards, the right, larger.  The blade is noticeably shorter that earlier swords and reflects the then current taste and style in fighting which emphasized agility over mass.  An interesting result was that the custom of removing the larger rapiers when entering a building was abandoned and these lighter swords were worn, and undoubtedly used, at social and state functions.

Blade length:  26 1/4"

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