antique arms, armour & militaria - Thomas Del Mar Ltd

THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN
102
AN ENGLISH BASKET-HILTED BACKSWORD, MID-17TH
CENTURY
with associated tapering fullered blade, rectangular
ricasso, symmetrical steel basket-guard of so-called
mortuary type, chiselled with four stylised profile masks
on the base and a grotesque mask at the front, a pair of
short triangular langets, short scrolling rear quillon
(chipped, cracked towards the blade aperture), knuckleguard
joined to the frontal guard by a pair of additional
bars, rear guard en suite, globular pommel, chiselled
throughout with characteristic scrollwork (two bars
repaired, patinated), and early wooden grip (wormed)
86.5cm; 34in blade
£800-1000
102 103 104
103
AN ENGLISH BASKET-HILTED BACKSWORD, MID-17TH
CENTURY
with tapering blade cut with a pair of long fullers,
engraved with scrolling foliage and flowers on one side
(rubbed), steel hilt chiselled with foliage and characteristic
masks on the base of the guard, short scrolling quillon,
knuckle-guard, and an additional vertical bar at the front
and back (losses, repairs), globular pommel, and later
associated fishskin-covered grip bound with twisted wire
81.2cm; 32in blade
£600-800
104
AN ENGLISH BASKET-HILTED BACKSWORD, MID-17TH
CENTURY
with associated tapering blade inscribed ‘Andrea Ferara’
within a pair of short fullers on each side (rubbed), steel
basket-guard of so-called mortuary type finely chiselled
with scrolling foliage, cornucopia and mulberries on the
outer face, a pair of short ogee langets, knuckle-guard
joined to the frontal and rear-guard by a pair of additional
bars (one missing), chiselled ovoid pommel, and retaining
an early wooden grip
77cm; 30Din blade
For a hilt decorated in an almost identical manner see C.
Mazansky 2001, p.236, no. XIV.
£600-700
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