Transitional Rapier
1650–1670
- Medium
- Steel, iron, silver, copper, wood
- Dimensions
- 111.8 × 12.1 × 9.6 cm (44 × 4 3/4 × 3 3/4 in.)
- Genre
- edged weapon-sword
- Museum
- Art Institute of Chicago
Tags
arms and armoriron (metal)silverarmsplant materialcopperinorganic materialwood (plant material)nonferrous metalsteeledged weapon-swordiron alloymetal
About
Transitioning from the long-bladed rapier, the reduced blade length and smaller guard size of this sword anticipate later smallswords. Like the contemporary cup-hilted rapiers displayed to the left, this sword was designed for a fencing style that relied almost entirely on the point. Its blackened iron hilt is finely encrusted with silver portraits of ancient Roman emperors.