TRANSITIONAL RAPIER C.1690-1720, FRENCH OR ITALIAN

Gilt bronze hilt with “bag” shaped quillon block, large arms, spherical pommel and thickened edge scalloped shell guards. Engraved decoration throughout in foliage garlands. The whole with 95% original fire gilt. 31 5/8” rapier blade with line bordered grooved forte marked SINNAL.ANGEO / CLEMENTE.GLUER. The blade is probably a family blade remounted as was the custom. The style of the decoration shows strong Japanese influence which was fashionable at the time. See Metropolitan Museum 26.145.259 for a related hunting sword with Japanese hilt made for the European market, dated 1700-25.