The hilt decoration includes the coat of arms of the Albani family, possibly Orazio Albani (1576–1653), ambassador from Urbino to the papal court. While clearly influenced by French ornament, the decoration has been attributed to Gasparo Mola (1567–1640), a medalist and goldsmith working in Rome between about 1620 and 1630.
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Artwork Details
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Title:Rapier with Scabbard
Goldsmith:Decoration attributed to Gasparo Mola (Italian, Coldre ca. 1580–1640 Rome)
Date:ca. 1620–30
Culture:French or Italian
Medium:Steel, gold, silver, leather, wood
Dimensions:L. 49 1/4 in. (125.1 cm); W. 8 3/4 in. (22.2 cm); Wt. of scabbard 7.5 oz. (212.6 g)
Classification:Swords
Credit Line:Rogers Fund, 1904
Accession Number:04.3.23a, b
Ernest Dubois, Vicomte de Courval, Aisne, Hauts-de-France (1834–60; Des armes offensives et defensives…composant la collection de M. le Vicomte de Courval, Hôtel des Commissaires-Priseurs, Paris, April 17–18, 1860, sold for Fr 3,750, to Beurdeley); [Beurdeley, Paris, from 1860; sold for Fr. 4,500 to Saint-Seine]; Comte de Saint-Seine, Paris (until d. 1875; his estate sale, Objets d'art et de haute curiosité composant la précieuse collection de feu M. B*** de Saint-Seine, Hôtel Drouot, Paris, April 16–17, 1875, no. 1, for Fr 34,500 to Sommier); A. Sommier, Paris (1875–before 1901); [Bachereau, Paris, before 1901; sold for 52,000 to Dino]; Charles Maurice Camille de Talleyrand-Périgord, Duc de Dino, Paris (by 1901–04; sold to MMA).
Paris. Palais du Trocadéro. "Exposition Universelle de 1878: L'Exposition Historique du Trocadéro," May 1–October 31, 1878 (lent by Sommier).
Hôtel Drouot. Catalogue Descriptif des Armes Offensives et Défensives, Pièces d'Armures... Objets de Curiosité du Moyen-âge, Composant la Collection de M. le Vicomte de Courval, April 17–18, 1860. Paris: Hôtel des Commissaires-Priséurs (Charles Pillet), Paris, April 17–18, 1860. no. 2.
Burty, Philippe. Chefs-d'oeuvre Des Arts Industriels: Céramique, Verrerie Et Vitraux, Émaux, Métaux, Orfévrerie Et Bijouterie, Tapisserie. Paris: P. Ducrocq, 1866. pp. 387, 389–90, ill. (English ed., London, 1869, pp. 261–62, pl. opp. p. 260).
Hôtel Drouot. Objets d'Art et de Haute Curiositʹe. Paris: Hôtel Drouot, April 15–17, 1875. no. 1.
Beaumont, Edouard de. "Les Armures et les Armes Anciennes au Trocadéro." Gazette de Beaux-Arts (May 1878), no. 712.
Bréban, Philibert. Livret-Guide du Visiteur à l'Exposition Historique du Trocadéro, edited by E. Dentu. Paris, 1878. p. 42.
Hôtel Drouot. Objets d'Art et de Curiosité de la Renaissance et du XVIIe Siècle. Paris: Hôtel Drouot, June 5–7, 1895.
Cosson, Charles Alexander. Le Cabinet d'Armes de Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, Duc de Dino. Paris: E. Rouveyre, 1901. no. F.16, pl. 14.
Laking, Guy Francis, Charles A. de Cosson, and Francis Henry Cripps-Day. A Record of European Armour and Arms Through Seven Centuries. Vol. IV. London: G. Bell and Sons, 1920–1922. pp. 286–88, fig. 1351.
Buttin, Charles. "Le Chef-d'Oeuvre de Gasparo Mola au Musée de l'Armée." Gazette des Beaux-Arts ser. 5, IX pp. 109–110.
Hayward, J. F. "Claude Savigny and French Arms Decoration of the Late 16th Century." Livrustkammaren (March 1955), pp. 18–19, fig. 11.
Seitz, Heribert. Blankwaffen: Geschichte und Typenentwicklung im Europäischen Kulturbereich: ein Waffenhistorisches Handbuch. Vol. 2. Brunswick: Klinkhardt & Biermann, 1968. p. 62, tafel II.
Boccia, Lionello G., and Eduardo T. Coelho. Armi Bianche Italiane. Milan: Bramante Editrice, 1975. pp. 396–97, fig. 563.
Norman, A. V. B. The Rapier and Small-Sword, 1460–1820. London: Arms & Armour Press, 1980. pp. 134, 231, 328, 362.
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