Swept Hilt Rapier
ca. 1600 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Steel hilt, damascened in gold and encrusted with chiselled silver. The blade is stamped with spurious marks 'CAINO' (Milanese bladesmith) and 'TO' in a shield surmounted by a crown (Toledo mark).
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Steel, damascened in gold and encrusted with chiselled silver. |
| Brief description | Swept hilt rapier, the blade stamped with spurious Italian and Spanish marks, English, ca. 1600. |
| Physical description | Steel hilt, damascened in gold and encrusted with chiselled silver. The blade is stamped with spurious marks 'CAINO' (Milanese bladesmith) and 'TO' in a shield surmounted by a crown (Toledo mark). |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions |
|
| Gallery label | Treasures of the Royal Courts: Tudors, Stuarts and the Russian Tsars label text:
Rapier
About 1600
A rapier was an essential part of the lavish dress of the Elizabethan male courtier. It was both an item of jewellery and a weapon of self-defence. This rapier has a 'swept' hilt designed to protect an unarmoured civilian hand. It is similar to that shown in the portrait of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex.
England
Steel, the hilt damascened in gold and encrusted with chiselled silver
Stamped with marks 'caino' and 'to' in a shield (for Toledo)
Bequeathed to the Victoria and Albert Museum by Francis Mallett
V&A M.51-1947 |
| Credit line | F Mallett Bequest |
| Object history | Historical significance: This is one of the finest English rapiers to have survived |
| Historical context | It can be identified as English on the evidence of its decoration which relates closely to that found in swords with hilts of English form. Source: J F Hayward, Swords and Daggers, London, HMSO, 1963, p.5-6 |
| Bibliographic references |
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.51-1947 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | March 23, 2004 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
