A RARE TWO-HAND SWORD, EARLY 16TH CENTURY, PROBABLY LOWLAND SCOTTISH OR ENGLISH in excavated condition, with tapering blade of flattened-diamond section, straight spirally-moulded cross-piece, swelling to a pair of button-shaped terminals (one quillon slightly bent), low triangular écusson, long near-rectangular slightly tapering ricasso, spherical pommel, with traces of old paint, perhaps from a funerary monument, and in untouched condition 119cm; 46 3/4in blade Provenance Christie's King Street, 8th December 1976, lot 135. For a discussion of related swords see T. Willis 1996, pp.12-15.