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Fig. 1352. "Swept" hilted rapier
German, latter part of the XVIth century. Possibly the work of Othmar Wetter of Munich. Royal Historical Museum, Dresden
It is probable that this lawyer sold the rapier, together with the associated dagger which we have referred to, on behalf of some great family of Rome. It had the tradition when in the Courval Collection of having belonged to Felice Peretti, afterwards Pope Sixtus V (1585 to 1590). It bears the escutcheon of the famous Roman family of Albani—argent on a band or, a star in the chief, three mountains rising to a point. At the sale of the Courval Collection in 1860, it was bought for 3,750 francs by M. Beurdeley, who immediately sold it to M. de Saint-Seine for 4,500 francs. Upon the death of M. de Saint-Seine, M. Sommier paid 34,500 francs for it at an auction. He exhibited it at the famous Exposition rétrospective held at the Trocadero in 1878. The hilt is very simple in form and perfect
