with slender blade double-edged towards the point, and decorated on both sides at the forte with etched panels of foliage and celestial motifs on alternate matted and faux damascus gilt grounds, silver hilt involving recurved short quillons and enamelled in basse-taille aquamarine, green, blue, amber, yellow and black patterns in the manner of David Altenstetter, comprising exotic birds, insects, butterflies, snails, frogs, mice and hares within designs of scrolls and tree foliage, fitted with faceted pink agate grip with silver tang-button, and in original leather-covered wooden scabbard with silver locket and chape en suite with the hilt (small pieces of enamel chipped, grip with neat repair, scabbard split on both edges), 50.8 cm blade

Provenance

John F. Hayward, Sotheby's, November 1983, lot 24

Sotheby's New York, January 1991, lot 646, $26,400

Exhibited

Welt im Umbrach, Augsburg, 1980, cat. no. 881

This technique of enamelling is usually attributed to David Altenstetter of Augsburg, Munich and Prague, circa 1547-1617. Altenstetter was appointed court goldsmith and enameller to the Emperor Rudolf II, circa 1600-1610. This example is probably the product of a pupil of his workshop.