Transitional Rapier Small Sword For Boy 17th C. Italian Greek Classical Design

Description

Provenance: France
Material: Iron and Steel
Length 81cm (32 inches)
Length of the blade 68cm (27 inches)
Sword Weight 310gr (11 ounces)
As the 17th century progressed, traditional rapiers transitioned into transitional rapiers and and traditional small swords transitioned into courtswords . When the final decades of the 17th century loomed, the small courtswords gained in popularity and took the 18th century by storm.
This transitional Rapier in particular, was designed for a boy of nobility and made in Italy in the late 17th Century (
c. 1650-1680)
. The sword features classical Greek/Roman motifs on the Quillon block and along the guard with Gold damascened fruit motifs on the blade. Also featured are Inlaid floral designs in silver featured on the pommel, likely the scenes all together are resembling the parts of a Classical Roman Garden. The God that is shown on the guard is
Tiberinus
, the Roman river God, in his traditional reclining pose.
Condition note: Blade is firmly attached to the hilt with little movement. The blade is in good condition for its age but not remarkable. Minor chip can be seen on the side of the blade measuring about 1" inch (2.5 cm). The blade is still sharp