c1750 Silver metal Hilt Court / Diplomatic Small Sword With Blued & Gilt Blade. ED 2626 Swords

The small sword (also court sword, French: epée de cour or dress sword) is a light one-handed sword designed for thrusting which evolved out of the longer and heavier rapier of the late Renaissance. The height of the small sword's popularity was between mid-17th and late 18th century. It is thought to have appeared in France and spread quickly across the rest of Europe. The small sword was the immediate predecessor of the French duelling sword (from which the epée developed. This is an excellent original c1750 Court / Diplomatic small sword (see pages 270 to 282 of Wither’s book ‘World Swords’ where many variants of small sword are illustrated. It has a silver metal hilt with part bowl guard and knuckle bow. The urn crown pommel has a ball top. The slim 82 cm blade is straight and undamaged and has just staining consistent with age. The blade has its original hilt washer & etched panels on both sides featuring geometric designs. The sword measures 99 ½ cm overall. The leather scabbard has an aged patina with brass ornate chape and locket with a fancy frog stud. The owners name is inscribed to the rear of the locket: ‘Count Ferdinand de Baillet’ (A Count Ferdinand Charles Louis Antoine de Baillet–Latour (21 January 1850 – 18 September 1925) was a Belgian politician. He was governor of the province of Antwerp from 14 March 1908 until 31 December 1912. Baillet-Latour was born and died in Brussels. Ferdinand de Baillet-Latour was a member of the Antwerp provincial council for the canton Ekeren from 1 July 1902 until 14 March 1908. He was a member of the village council of Brasschaat from 1902 until 1908 and from 1913 until 1824. He was burgomaster of Brasschaat from 1902 until 1908, where he succeeded Armand Reussens, and (provincial) senator in the Belgian Senate from 1912 until 1921).The price for this attractive Court / Diplomatic small sword includes UK delivery. ED 2626.