Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 4).djvu/294



Probably North Italian, middle of the XVIth century. J 95, Musée d'Artillerie, Paris

massive pommel and the drooping ends of the quillons are treated in the same general decorative manner, which is also followed to a certain extent in the central ornament of the single ring-guard. Chiselled and gilt leafage, borders of silver beading, and narrow panels of most minute gold damascening constitute the details of the decoration of the hilt. As in the case of the sword just described, the grip placed upon the hilt of this weapon is modern and too short. The blade is a splendid example of the actual work of Federigo Picinino, the elder brother of Antonio Picinino of Milan, whose best work was executed between 1540 and 1550. We imagine that the blade was not originally associated with this hilt, it being of a section that, as a rule, is found with a hilt of an earlier type. In this case it is more than possible