AN ITALIAN SPONTOON, EARLY 17TH CENTURY with two-stage blade, the upper portion leaf-shaped, engraved with a pair of figures amidst foliage on either side of a pair of pierced rectangular panels, and the lower portion formed with a pair of slender lugs, engraved with foliage, and pierced with crescents and circles, a pair of strongly up-turned basal arms, engraved conical socket incorporating a characteristic openwork collar of six vertical bars each interrupted by a chiselled mask, and a pair of short straps, on an early wooden haft (light worm damage) studded with numerous brass-capped nails and with its iron shoe 31.5cm; 12 1/4in head A similar example is preserved in the National Museum, Prague. See J. Å ach 1999, p. 80. It has been suggested that these were intended for use by a sergeant of artillery originating from the earlier Buttafuochi.