A FINE ENGLISH 'MORTUARY' HILTED BACKSWORD, SECOND QUARTER OF THE 17TH CENTURY, with broad blade double-edged towards the point, stamped 'Andrea Ferara' between a series of decorative marks within two fullers of differing length on each face (rubbed), symmetrical iron hilt comprising a pair of langets chiselled with foliage, scrolling vestigial quillon, basket-guard chiselled at the base with delicate scrolling leafy tendrils inhabited by birds, putti and grotesque busts, front-and rear-guard each bifurcated at the base, joined to the knuckle-guard by a pair of diagonal bars each interrupted by a leafy moulding, a further scrolling bar front and back, and ovoid pommel chiselled with foliage and scrolls, spirally-carved wooden grip with an early binding of plaited wire between 'Turk's heads' (areas of light pitting), 88.0 cm blade Property from a Private Collection