|
 50.
COURT SWORD North German
(Scandinavian?), 1780
Similar to foregoing.
Hilt silver, chiseled
in low relief in shell
and scrolled palmettes
against fine-grained background
(blackened?). Pas d'âne
small, not reaching to
guard, ends turned slightly
in. Quillons opposed,
the forward longer. Grip
of silver en suite.
Pommel globular, flattened.
On pas d'âne unidentified
hall marks (cf. No. 66).
Blade double-edged, with
median flattening. Rectangular
portion at base of blade
etched with strapwork
against hatched background
and gilded. Beyond this,
forte blued and gilded
over etched trophy, interlaced
scrolls, glory, and floral
design.
26.145.354
L. 99.5 (82.5) Wt.
668
Plate XXXIX Reubell Benefaction
|
 |
|
(page
29)
This and the following
fourteen swords may be
described as in the "French
manner, Louis XV"
  51.
COURT SWORD French, 1736
Hilt silver, unusually
short, chased in low relief
against delicately stippled
background with conventional
shields, scrolls and,
on grip, animals. Pas
d'âne functions imperfectly.
Grip of silver en suite;
decorations include oval
shield with fess ribbony,
scrolls, leaves and fruit,
squirrel, mastiff, porcupine.
Pommel slightly flattened.
On pas d'âne and
top of grip two hail marks:
date letter 1736; poinçons
de Jurande of Hubert Louvet,
Fermier Général (1732-1738).
Blade three-edged, similar
decoration on both sides;
at base gilded panel etched
with strapwork and cross
patté alessée (arms of
de la Riganama or of de
Tillet de Villars?) in
medallion against hatched
background; above this,
etched and gilded in a
medallion, a wounded lion
passant gardant (arrow
protruding from side),
and motto: RIEN NE M'ARRETTE;
above lion strapwork and
palmettes.
26.145.33 L.
89 (75) Wt.
404.5
Note: We know of no earlier
sword with reduced pas
d'âne. Such a condition
suggests a date late by
half a century.
Plate XL Reubell Benefaction
|
|
|
52.
COURT SWORD French, 1750
Silver hilt chiseled in
low relief against punctate
gold background in late
baroque scrolls and flowers.
Grip of silver wire formerly
gilt, alternately two
large and four small strands
of twisted wire. On pas
d'âne three hail marks:
poinçon apparently of
Inspector Julien Berthe
(1750-1756); Paris date
letter 1750; maker's mark
unidentified. On knuckle
guard probably verification
mark of 1803. On pommel
indecipherable.
Blade three-edged; forte
blued and gilded over
etched scrolls, draperies,
crown, half figure of
boy; at base very short
gilded panel etched. Scabbard
of white shagreen over
wood; double ring suspension;
fittings of silver chased
en suite, upper ferrule
with rectangular panels
gilded.
26.145.281 L.
90 (74) Wt.
413.5
Plate XL Reubell Benefaction
|
|
|
(page
30)
  53.
COURT SWORD French, 1740-1750
Hilt similar to No. 40,
chiseled with trophies
and foliate scrolls; background
punched with very fine
"egg-roe" and richly gilded.
Grip of silver wire and
tinsel: (a) crinkled silver
tinsel strip, (b) fine
braided wire, (c) two
strands wire-wound wire,
(d) same as (b).
Blade three-edged; gilded
and etched entire length
on both sides with panels,
medallions, trophies,
strapwork, "soleil," and
cross against hatched
background. Scabbard of
white sheepskin over wood;
combination double ring
and hook suspension; upper
ferrule with trophies
en suite against gold
background; second ferrule
restored.
26.145278 L.
90 (74.5) Wt.
381
Plate XLI Reubell Benefaction
|
|
|
  54.
COURT SWORD German(?),
1745
Hilt steel, military themes
chiseled in low relief
against punctate gold
background; also ornamented
by pierced work, furnishing
the setting for garnets
or other gems. Pas
d'âne unusually slender.
At beginning of quillon
and knuckle guard tiny
dogs' heads. Quillon as
head of lion. Pommel,
left, armed Athene amid
scholars; right, orders
being given by a general
seated on globe. Grip
silvered wire, two large
and nine small strands
of oppositely twisted
wire.
Blade double-edged, with
median flattening except
at base which is ovoid;
etched entire length and
background gilded; at
base inscribed: right,
NE ME TIRE PAS SANS RAISONS,
left, NE ME REMETTE POINT
SANS HONNEUR; two groups
of four intaglio facets
("blood drops"); also
two longitudinal facets;
rest of engraving strapwork
and scrolls against hatched
background.
26.145.300 L.
94 (77.5) Wt.
427
Comparisons : A similar
sword in the collection
of the late Rutherfurd
Stuyvesant retains garnets
in similar openings, the
margins of which, for
the rest, as in the present
case, show hammered borders
arranged for the attachment
of gems. (Bashford Dean,
The Collection of Arms
and Armor of Rutherfurd
Stuyvesant. Printed privately,
1914, No. 92, Pl. XXX).
Plate XLII Reubell Benefaction
|
|
|
(page
31)
 55.
COURT SWORD French, 1750
Similar to No. 60, but
with slightly smaller
guard and pommel with
trophy of musical instruments
en suite. Grip
of silvered wire: (a)
(c) wire-wound wire, (b)
twisted wire-wound wire,
(d) eight strands twisted
fine wire.
Blade three-edged; at base
small gilded panel of
strapwork against hatched
background; above this,
forte blued and gilded
over etching of "soleil,"
festoons, flower basket,
mask, and strapwork.
26.145.283
L. 96 (79) Wt.
381
Plate XLIII Reubell Benefaction
|
| |
|
|
