17th Century Rapier North African blue and gilt

blue and gilt

with a northern hilt decorated in gold koftgari

These were made to resemble the style of Eastern European 'Pandur / Pandour' free corps

with an even rarer original scabbard

17th Century Rapier North African blue and giltA steel hilted rapier with a hexafoil saucer, dating to 1630 45. The hilt has a pair of quillons supporting arms which divide to form two equal branches linked to the edge of a saucer shaped guard through the centre of which the blade passes. A style very prevalent in mid 17th century art, one such example is illustrated in a portrait of Giovanni Carlo de' Medici, attributed to Justus Sutterman, about 1642. A comparable hilt can be found in "A