Lot 2788
A rapier of Pappenheim type with low basket hilt and fine Solingen blade, circa 1620
Arms & Armour, and Antique Firearms | A109aw | Live auction | 1369 Lots
Description
High-grade, slender, double-edged blade of flattened diamond section, lightly fullered. The multi-fullered root struck on both sides with an imperial orb mark and the signature “WILHELM WIRSBERGH - IN SOLINGEN” struck twice on each side, together with the motto “FIDE SED CUI VIDE”. The ricasso with a brass-lined pincers mark struck on both sides. Iron hilt with ridged bars and large, finely openwork shell guards set on both sides. Original fluted grip, the wire winding lost, surviving Turk's heads in brass. Slightly oval, octagonal pommel with offset riveted button. Length 125 cm. Wilhelm Wirsberg, active as a swordsmith in Solingen, used a pair of pincers as his maker's mark. His high-grade blades are found on many weapons of princely provenance. See: Weyersberg, Albert, Die Solinger Schwertschmiede des 16. und 17. Jh., p. 53 ff.Condition: II Questions about the lot?
