Rapier
probably 19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Michael Redgrave (1908-1985) used this plain swept hilt rapier as Hamlet in the Old Vic Theatre Company production that opened at the New Theatre on 2nd February 1950. The mark probably identifies the maker as the German bladesmith Samuel Hoppe Söhne, later Samuel Hoppe & Company, founded in 1840 as a general cutlers. Hoppe made swords prior to the Franco-Prussian War of 1871 with many of his swords being supplied to the state army of Bavaria. His British agent was Frederick Haste, 34 Jewin St. in the City of London at the beginning of the 1860s. He probably went out of business in the 1880s.
It is a reproduction of a C16th or C17th century original which may have made for ceremonial use. The tip of the blade is blunted, possible when the rapier was first used as a theatrical property.
It is a reproduction of a C16th or C17th century original which may have made for ceremonial use. The tip of the blade is blunted, possible when the rapier was first used as a theatrical property.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Forged and chiseled steel |
| Brief description | Rapier used by Michael Redgrave as Hamlet, New Theatre, 2 February 1950. |
| Physical description | Swept hilt rapier with a narrow tapering forged steel blade of diamond section. A central fuller runs for approximately a third of the length of the blade from the rectangular ricasso. A mark is stamped onto the ricasso on one side. The point of the blade is blunted. The swept hilt guard is of twisted and chiseled steel, the crossguard with slender recurved quillons terminating in baluster like knobs. Finger loops and an outer and inner ring guard protect the index and forefingers of the Italian-style grip. The spiral decoration on the two ring guards are interrupted by a central moulding. Three curved guards sweep round forming an open cage around the hand and connect to a knuckle guard with a sharply hooked terminal. The grip is spirally fluted and bound with tightly wrapped twisted wire. The pommel is an elongated dome shape decorated with spiral fluting and terminating in a small knob. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | stamped maker's mark on ricasso in the form of a beehive (This is a more elaborate and older looking form of beehive motif, but probably that used by Samuel Hoppe in the C19th century) |
| Credit line | Given by the British Theatre Museum Association |
| Production | probably a copy of an early sword or a very good historicist piece |
| Association | |
| Literary reference | Hamlet |
| Summary | Michael Redgrave (1908-1985) used this plain swept hilt rapier as Hamlet in the Old Vic Theatre Company production that opened at the New Theatre on 2nd February 1950. The mark probably identifies the maker as the German bladesmith Samuel Hoppe Söhne, later Samuel Hoppe & Company, founded in 1840 as a general cutlers. Hoppe made swords prior to the Franco-Prussian War of 1871 with many of his swords being supplied to the state army of Bavaria. His British agent was Frederick Haste, 34 Jewin St. in the City of London at the beginning of the 1860s. He probably went out of business in the 1880s. It is a reproduction of a C16th or C17th century original which may have made for ceremonial use. The tip of the blade is blunted, possible when the rapier was first used as a theatrical property. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.6451-2009 |
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| Record created | February 17, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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