The prince-electors of Saxony spared no expense to ensure that their court would rival, if not outshine, all others in Renaissance Europe. Their personal armor and weaponry, as well as that of their entourage and guard was no exception. With its hilt almost entirely covered in finely etched and engraved silver, this rapier was probably intended for a noble member of the court or a commanding officer of the electoral guard.
The etched and engraved decoration of the silver consists of birds, hounds, and hares set in dense patterns of scrolling leafy foliage on a blackened ground. The lavish use of silver on weapons made for the court of the prince-electors of Saxony at Dresden reflected the source of their wealth, which was based on silver mines in the Erzgebirge (ore mountains) in Saxony.
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Title:Rapier
Date:ca. 1575–1600
Geography:Dresden
Culture:German, Dresden
Medium:Steel, iron, silver, copper alloy, wood
Dimensions:L. 47 7/8 in. (121.6 cm); L. of blade 42 in. (106.7 cm)
Classification:Swords
Credit Line:Gift of Laird Landmann and Kathleen Kinney Landmann, in celebration of the Museum’s 150th Anniversary, 2023
Accession Number:2023.580.3
Marking: Inlaid in copper alloy on the flats of the forte on ether side of the blade, three times: a maker’s mark.
The Armory of the Electors of Saxony, later the Historisches Museum, Dresden (until about 1969; Highly Important Arms from the Saxon Royal Collections, Sotheby & Co., London, March 23, 1970, no. 57 to Berger for $5,520.00); H. Berger, probably Germany (1970; Waffenauktion: Rüstungen, Hieb-, Stich- und Fernwaffen aus verschiedenen Privatsammlungen: Jagdgewehre aus der Grossherzoglich Sachsen-Weimarischen Hof-gewehrkammer, Schloss Ettersburg: Ostasiatica, Waffenliteratur, Galerie Fischer, Lucerne, June 17, 1970, no. 150, to Zwanger); Dr. Jerome Zwanger, Long Island, NY (from 1970); [Peter Finer, Ilmington, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, UK, by 2010; sold to Landmann]; Laird Landmann, California (after 2010).
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Emperors, Artists & Inventors: Transformative Gifts of Fine Arms and Armor," December 21, 2020–February 21, 2022.
Galerie Fischer. Waffenauktion: Rüstungen, Hieb-, Stich- und Fernwaffen aus verschiedenen Privatsammlungen. Jagdgewehre aus der Grossherzoglich Sachsen-Weimarischen Hof-Gewehrkammer, Schloss Ettersburg. Ostasiatica. Waffenliteratur. Lucerne: Galerie Fischer, June 17, 1970. p. 11, lot 150, pl. 3 (on cover), ill.
Sotheby's, London. Highly Important Arms from the Saxon Royal Collections. London: Sotheby's, London, March 23, 1970. no. 57, ill.
Schedelmann, Hans. "Konrad Fecit." Waffen– und Kostümkunde: Zeitschrift der Gesellschaft für historische Waffen– und Kostümkunde, Waffen- und Kostümkunde, 30, ser. 3 v.13, no.1 pp. 52–61.
Galerie Fischer, Lucerne. Waffenauktion: Hieb– und Stichwaffen, Rüstungen, Rüstungsteile, Fernwaffen, darunter hervorragende Pistolenpaare; Orientwaffen, Waffenliteratur, Revolver– und Pistolensammlung. Lucerne: Galerie Fischer, Lucerne, July 4, 1973. p. 6, lot 38, pl. 6, ill.
Finer, Peter. Peter Finer [dealer's catalogue]. London: Peter Finer, 2010. pp. 60, 62, 66–7, no. 13.
Bantz, Jennifer, Kayla Elam, Anne Blood Mann, and Briana Parker, eds. Gifts of Art: The Met's 150h Anniversary. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2020. p. 181.
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