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Fig. 1417. Processional partisan

Probably English, about the year 1600. Collection: Author

• laced letters S that were construed into the monogram used by the favourite

of that King, Gabrielle d'Estrées. M. Joannis Guigard, in his work on Nouvel Armorial du Bibliophile, vol. i, p. 158, gives an illustration of the cover of a Book of Hours, probably by Cloris Eve, which belonged to Gabrielle d'Estrées, Duchess of Beaufort, which has the same curious cipher stamped on it in many places. So unusual is the cipher, and so exactly similar is it to that upon the partisan, that the author is inclined to think that the theory of the Estrées chiffre may be accepted, which in connection with the prominence given to the letter H, tends to strengthen his belief that this partisan was at one time the personal property of Henri IV of France. The blade has at its base double curved beaks projecting at right angles, and down the centre is a pierced channel, interrupted at intervals by small diamond-shaped bars. The haft socket is octagonal, tapering to the head, where it finishes in a moulding of gilt steel; at the base is also a similar moulding, but silver-gilt. The haft, which is not shown in the illustration, and which is made in two pieces, is of mahogany, shod with a steel cylinder at either end and with a connecting cylinder in the centre. These cylinders, as also the head of the weapon, are the field of the richest gold and silver incrustation. Besides the monogram we have alluded to there are introduced into the ornamentation figures of Mars and Minerva, trophies of classical arms, and branches of olive, laurel, and palm leaves; while, with the exception of the upper part of the blade, the exposed iron groundwork is russeted to display advantageously the various inlaid ornaments of gold and silver. The whole decoration of this fine pageant partisan is executed under a definite classical influence that appears for the first time in France in the revivals of the ebonist, André Charles Boulle. Our belief is that this partisan is so individual in style as to be the work of some French armourer of note, of whose name there is no record. We think that the work on the weapons illustrated in Figs. 1375, 1376, and 1386 is from his hand, as also, we believe, are a pistol, No. 808 in the Wallace Collection, and two pistols in the collection of Mr. Edward H. Litchfield of New York. We will deal finally