Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 4).djvu/314

Fig. 1351. Rapier with "swept" hilt

French, latter part of the XVIth century Dino Collection, Metropolitan Museum, New York

finely chiselled hilt, blued and gilded, is in the Musée d'Artillerie of Paris (J 96), to which collection it was given by General Eblé who had obtained it in Naples (Fig. 1349). It may be looked upon as Italian of about 1570 to 1580. The grip is not the original one. A dagger very closely resembling it, without its original blade, is in the collection of Mr. D. M. Currie and may be its companion weapon; for it was a constant practice to make companion rapiers and daggers. For example, the next rapier and dagger we mention (Fig. 1350), which are also in the Musée d'Artillerie (J 129), are companion weapons. Here is to be seen a triple barred rapier which may be considered of French workmanship of the third quarter of the XVIth century, and of the very greatest richness. The hilts of the rapier and dagger are of iron, gilded and then enamelled, with figure subjects and strapwork in translucent colours applied in cloisonné. Both the hilts are of great beauty, and the weapons are complete with their velvet scabbards, belts, carriage, etc., which have mounts of similar workmanship to those found on the hilts. The dagger, however, has been subjected to certain restorations. These two wonderful weapons were originally in the collection of the Vicomte de Courval, then successively in those of Debruge-Deménil, of Soltikoff, and of Napoleon III, finally reaching the Musée d'Artillerie, a pedigree which reminds us of the splendid rapier now in the Dino Collection, Metropolitan Museum of New York, which, too, formerly belonged to the Vicomte de Courval (Fig. 1351). This rapier hilt may, without doubt, be considered of French workmanship. About 1834 it belonged to a lawyer in Rome; at any rate it was sold by him to the Vicomte de Courval for 700 francs.