DONALD LAROCCA: This is a rapier, a type of slender long sword, made for elector Christian the II of Saxony.

NARRATOR: Donald Larocca is Curator of Arms and Armor.

DONALD LAROCCA: The Dukes of Saxony were very well known as patrons of the arts, and they were great patrons of the armorer’s art as well. It gives an impression of how important a sword could be as a status symbol, almost as a piece of gentleman’s jewelry. It’s made in the shape and form of a type of rapier that would have been practical for battle, but it’s so heavily decorated that you know it’s a piece intended really for show, to demonstrate the rank and the importance of its owner. So rather than being made out of steel, which the handle a rapier generally would be all steel the handle of a rapier generally would be all steel for defensive purposes. This is a gilt bronze, and because it’s made out of that material, it could be much more elaborately worked. You see all these small figures throughout its decoration and then it also has pearls and different types of imitation jewels to give it a very, very elaborate appearance.