with broad tapering blade formed in three sections, the uppermost with two tapering fullers, the median with an additional slender central fuller and the base with four, struck with a mark on each face, etched and gilt with a central panel of foliage in the middle on each face, two differing scenes involving figures in classical dress, perhaps from the life of Mercury, and with much early gilding, iron hilt, comprising strongly arched quillons engraved with foliage and mythical beasts (rubbed), a pair of écusson, shaped tang enclosed by gilt copper alloy panels cast and chased with the inscriptions ‘Avdaces fortunaivat’ (fortune favours the bold) and ‘Auxilium a Supera’ (help from on high) pommel enclosed by a gilt copper alloy horseshoe shaped plaque (slightly loose, the button now flush) decorated with putti on either side and foliage on each face, a pair of large ivory grip scales (small age cracks, perhaps an early replacement), four pierced gilt copper alloy gothic tracery rondels, in a later maroon velvet-covered wooden scabbard with engraved gilt-copper mounts comprising locket and chape, 68.5 cm overall

Provenance

Charles Somers-Cocks, 3rd Earl Somers (1819-83), Eastnor Castle, thence by descent

Literature

Lady Henry Somerset, Eastnor Castle, London 1889, p. 20: ‘An Italian dagger with broad fluted blade, chased with figures, and partly gilt, with ivory handle, in velvet sheath, mounted with engraved metal gilt’

Sir Guy Francis Laking Bart., C. B., M.V.O., F.S.A, A Record of European Armour and Arms Through Seven Centuries, London, 1922, volume III, page 73 (the cinquedea ‘among other well-known examples of the cinquedea in England we may mention one to be seen at Eastnor Castle…..still retaining its cuir bouilli sheath).

The reference to a cuir boulli sheath is probably erroneous as the earlier record states the scabbard is velvet, as offered here.

The form and decoration of the blade and hilt are closely comparable to the Cinquedea attributed to the ownership of Giovanni II Bentivoglio, Signore di Bologna, Bologna (MC334). See Boccia and Coelho 1975, p. 350, no. 201-202. A cinquedea struck with the same bladesmith's mark is preserved in the Royal Armouries, Leeds, see Dufty 1974, p. 18, plates 19c and 20b.