practically the same as those seen upon the family of hilts just alluded to; though in this case the former are of rectangular section. For embellishment these hilts depend entirely on the graceful composition of interlaced scrollwork of the acanthus design; and, with few exceptions, they are fashioned of cast bronze, boldly chased and gilt. The blades made for these swords are very wide at the hilt, tapering to a point; while in the region of the hilt they afforded scope for the richest etching and gilding. Another sword with a hilt similar to that of the Louvre weapon, but with differences in the details, is in the Beaumont Collection, Musée de Cluny (Fig. 655); whilst another is in the collection of Miss Alice de Rothschild at Waddesdon Manor. In the case of this last-mentioned sword, the grip has been replaced by one of a later date.
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Fig. 655. Sword
North Italian, late XVth century
Collection: M. Édouard de Beaumont, Musée de Cluny
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Fig. 656. Sword
North Italian workmanship, but made for Germany. Late XVth century
Collection: M. Édouard de Beaumont, Musée de Cluny
The most noticeable variations in these beautiful Italian swords are generally in the formation of their pommels. These are nearly always of gilded bronze and are of appropriate sizes to balance the weight of the blades;
