Page:A record of European armour and arms through seven centuries (Volume 4).djvu/295



North Italian, middle of the XVIth century Wallace Collection (Laking Catalogue, No. 675)

that the hilt was made for the blade towards the third quarter of the XVIth century, for it fits it very perfectly and the balance of the weapon is admirable. Another example, worthy of note, which may be looked upon as of North Italian workmanship of about 1560, can be seen in our own easily accessible Wallace Collection, No. 675 (Fig. 1331). It came from the collection of Sir Samuel Meyrick, and is illustrated in Skelton's "Engraved Illustrations." The pommel has a fanciful fish-tail shape; while the ends of the quillons curve markedly towards the blade. The hilt, which has a single ring-guard, is russeted and is decorated with chiselled acanthus leaves and arabesques in gold azzimina. The grip is of light wood and, here again, it is too short and is not the original one made for the sword. The blade is of flattened hexagonal section, grooved the whole way down the face. An armourer's