EUROPEAN SMALLSWORD C.1750

Perhaps Flemish, this sword bears the name of the seller, Bressard, of rue du Madeline, Brussels, at the forte. Above, an angle with flag and impaled coronet indicating the nobility of its owner. The iron hilt is beautifully enriched with high relief figures of military arms, musical instruments flags, foliage and the globe, on a rich gold ground. The elements have symbolic meaning, some, such as the globe, obvious, and others more specific to its time and circumstances. Originally, many swords were finely crafted and richly decorated like this, however, examples retaining their original beauty and detail are quite scarce. 31 7/8" length blade.