Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 1).djvu/175



First half of XIIIth century. In the Hermitage, Petrograd

may be described as leaf-shaped in outline. The quillons taper towards their ends where they terminate in trefoils protected within their downward curve. On either side respectively are shown the arms of Leon and Castile. The quillons are constructed of silver-gilt, whilst the pommel is of iron overlaid with plates of the former; the grip and scabbard are of wood, overlaid with silver-gilt plates, upon which is a true arabesque design in filigree work. This, however, is missing from the pommel and grip. Both the sheath and the hilt of the sword were originally set with cabouchon stones, some of which still remain. In the groove of the blade, which is thin and flexible from centuries of cleaning, are arrangements of tooled