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Venetian, late XVth century. Showing a Near Eastern influence in its shape

Collection: Signor Ressman, Bargello Museum, Florence

of six examples chosen from the British Museum. The influence of the East upon the weapons of Italy and Spain in the latter half of the XVth century was very marked. Spain, through its long partial occupation by the Moors, originated a form of sword almost entirely its own, of which we will speak later. Italy, through its trading port of Venice, accepted readily the innovation of Eastern forms and decoration. Possibly they appealed as the introduction of a new fashion generally does when it is to be applied to