What's behind the mask, you say?

Cup-hilt Rapier

Dated: second quarter of the 17th Century

Provenance: North Italy

Measurements: 112.5cm

The sword has a straight, double-edged blade of hexagonal section, a groove at the forte signed "PETER HENCKEL SOLINGEN" and a short tang. The double fuller and mark at the ricasso, plus the hemispherical cup are richly pierced and chiselled with vegetal motifs.The border is bent towards the outside, pierced with vine shoots and bunch of grapes. The quillon-block is bent and features foliage while the straight quillons and the guard chiselled with spirals and decorated with alternated bands. It has a spinning-top-shaped pommel deeply carved with floral motifs. The wooden grip is covered with iron wire-binding and Moor’s heads.

Swept-hilt Rapier Sword

In the German style

Dated: early 20th century

Measurements: overall length 129.5cm

Deaccessioned by the John Woodman Higgins Armory Museum

This is a large example of swept-hilt type with faceted, urn-shaped pommel and spirally carved grip with wire wrap. The complex guard comes with flattened quillon ends and curled finials while the straight, double-edged blade has a short fuller at either forte. The sword comes from the atelier of Ernst Schmidt, Munich, acquired by J. W. Higgins on December 9, 1930 from Ernst Schmidt and later donated to the John Woodman Higgins Armory Museum.