with tapering blade formed with a slender central ridge over its surface on each face, dividing to form a fuller at the forte and stamped ‘Pedro’ and ‘Lecama’ within a delicate punched frame on the respective sides, rectangular ricasso struck with a bell mark within a shallow groove on each face, inscribed ‘Lo Spadaro’ and Dello Re’ on the respective sides, symmetrical iron hilt of slender rounded bars, comprising a pair of straight quillons swelling slightly towards the terminals, ring-guard filled with a finely pierced plate decorated with delicate scrolling foliage inhabited by birds within an engraved framework of cross-hatched rondels, three looped bars at the sides, knuckle-guard en suite with the quillons, and faceted near spherical pommel engraved with scrolls (perhaps an early association) and the grip with an early binding of plaited wire between ‘Turk’s heads’, 126.0 cm blade

Provenance

Eric Valentine, sold Christie’s, 25th February 1981, lot 49.

Literature

The Art of the Armourer, no.110

Eric Valentine, Rapiers, 1968, no. 35

Exhibited

The Art of the Armourer, The Vicotria and Albert Museum, 19th April – 5th May 1963, no. 110.

The bladesmith is perhaps Pedro de Lezama of Toledo and Seville, or a contemporary bladesmith imitating his work as the bell mark is not associated with him.