The hilt is finely decorated with small yet amazingly detailed scenes from the Old Testament, encircled by identifying inscriptions in Latin and French. The hilt is initialed M.I.F. three times by an unidentified medalist or sculptor. Inscribed on the back of the knuckle guard is the name of the owner, Ambrogio Spinola (1569–1630), commander in chief of the Spanish forces in the sourthern Netherlands from 1604 to 1609.
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Title:Rapier of Ambrogio Spinola (1569–1630) with Scabbard Chape
Hilt Maker:Hilt inscribed M. I. F. (northern European, active ca. 1600)
Date:ca. 1600
Culture:Northern European, possibly France
Medium:Steel
Dimensions:L. of sword 46 1/8 in. (117.1 cm); L. of blade 39 3/4 in. (101 cm); L. of chape 3 in. (7.6 cm)
Classification:Swords
Credit Line:Rogers Fund, 1932
Object Number:32.130.4a, b
Inscription: Inscribed on the back of the knuckle guard: *AMB*SPINOLA*EXERC*IMPER (Ambrogio Spinola [commander-in-chief of the] Imperial Army); on the front top of the pommel: ESAV.PRIM.AEVI.IVS.VENVNDAT. (Genesis XXV); in the front center of the pommel: DAVID.VNGITVR.REX.A.SAMVELE. (I Sam. XVI:13); on the front bottom of the pommel: CERVVM.SE/CTATVR.ESAV (Genesis XXV:27, 28); on the back top of the pommel: ABRAH/AE.SACRI/FICIVM (Genesis XXII); in the back center of the pommel: . M . I . F . SAVL.A.DI/ABOLO.VALDE.CRV/CIATVR (I Samuel XVI:14–23); on the back bottom of the pommel: SER/VVS.AS/IN/OS/.DEPA/SCITVR (Genesis XXII:5); on the knuckle-guard, at the top: THAMAR.A.FRATRE.AMON.VIOLATVR (II Samuel XIII); HE/LIE (I Kings XVII:1–6); DAVICT.IONATHASi (I Samuel XVIII:3); DAVID.MONITVS.A.MICOL.FVGIT.A.FACIE.SAVLIS. (I Samuel XIX:11, 12); DAVICT.IONATHAS (I Samuel XX:41); IVS/TICE; DA/VID (Genesis XLIX:9, and Revelations V:5); DAVICT.SAVL (I Samuel XXIV:3–11, or XXVI:12); SALOMONIS/PRUDENTIA.IN.DVORV.INFANTIVM.IVDICIO (I Kings III:16–28); DAVICT.GOLIAC (I Samuel XVII:51); DA/VID (I Samuel XVI:1); FOY; on the quillon: AMON.A.FRATRE.ABSALON.INTERIMITVR (II Samuel XIII:28, 29); DAVIT.(TOMAT ? OR IONAT[HAN]?); on the écusson: AD.SAVL.EM.SPIRITVS.SAMVELIS.LO/QVITVR (I Samuel XXVIII); on the pas d'âne: DAVID/ABSALOM (II Samuel XIV:33); on the anneau: CHA-RITE; REGINA.SABA.AD.SALOMONEM.ADVENTVS (I Kings X); CHA/RITE; on the shell enclosed by the anneau: A.IOAB.ABSALOM.CAPILLIS.SVSPENSVS.PERFORATVR (II Samuel XVIII:14); on the shell in the counter-guard: PAIX; ELIAS.AB.ANGELO.EXCITATVS.PANEM.ET.AQVAM.REPERIT (I Kings XIX: 5–8); ESPERANCE; on the scabbard chape: IOAB.TV / E.ARNER (II Samuel III: 27).
Marking: Stamped on the front and back of the ricasso: swordsmith's mark, the Baptism of Christ.
Honoré d'Albert, 10th Duc de Luynes, Dampierre-en-Yvelines, France (until 1911; sold to Bachereau); [Louis Bachereau, Paris, 1911–before 1919]; [Samuel James Whawell, London, by 1919–d. 1926; sale, Sotheby and Co., London, May 3–6, 1927, no. 206, sold to Duveen for Mackay, for £3000]; Clarence Mackay, Roslyn, N.Y. (1927–32, sold to MMA).
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Loan Exhibition of European Arms and Armor," August 3–September 27, 1931, no. 163 (called Brescian).
The Gentleman's Magazine (February 1785), p.105.
Guérinet, Armand. Le Château Historique de Dampierre: Reproductions en Phototypie; Intérieurs des Appartements de Réception, Détails de Sculpture Ornementale, Mobilier Historique, Peintures, Statues, Cheminées, Bronzes d'Art, etc., etc.. Paris: Armand Guérinet, 1905. pl. 9.
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. 308–311, figs. 1371–73 (similar swords).
The Antiquarian (Oct. 1927), p. 20.
Sotheby & Co. The Magnificent Collection of Armour, Weapons and Works of Art. London: Sotheby & Co., May 3–6, 1927. no. 206, pl. X.
Grancsay, Stephen V. Loan Exhibition of European Arms and Armor: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, August 3 to September 27, 1931. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1931. p. 45, no. 163.
Grancsay, Stephen V. "Historical Arms and Armor." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin (March, 1933), pp. 56–57, fig. 4.
Buttin, François. L'Épée au Médaillon de Henri IV. Paris: Lavauzelle, 1935. pp. 25–27.
Louchheim, Aline B. "Five Thousand Years of Art." In Art News Annual 1945–46 (Diamond Jubilee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art). 1945–46. p. 38, no. 4, ill.
Grancsay, Stephen V. "The Sword of Ambrogio di Spinola." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin (May 1947), pp. 235–39, fig. 9.
Grancsay, Stephen V. "The New Galleries of European Arms and Armor." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin (May 1956), pp. 211, 230, ill.
Beard, Charles R. "The Spinola Sword." The Journal of the Arms & Armour Society (September 1961), pp. 273–83, pls. LXXV–LXXVIII.
Blackmore, Howard. Arms and Armour. Dutton Vista Pictureback. London: Studio Vista, 1965. p. 102, ill. (hilt only).
Schedelmann, Hans. "Ein Rückblick auf den Waffenmarkt des letzten halben Jahrhunderts." Waffen– und Kostümkunde: Zeitschrift der Gesellschaft für historische Waffen– und Kostümkunde, Waffen- und Kostümkunde, 32, ser. 3 v. 15, no.1 p. 30, no. 18, ill.
Oakeshott, R. Ewart. European Weapons and Armour: From the Renaissance to the Industrial Revolution. North Hollywood, Calif.: Beinfeld Publishing, 1980. p.159, pl. 12A.
Hayward, John F., and Sotheby Parke Bernet & Co. The Hever Castle Collection: The Property of The Lord Astor of Hever. Vol. I. London: Sotheby Parke Bernet & Co., May 5, 1983. no. 207, pl. X.
Grancsay, Stephen V., and Stuart W. Pyhrr. Arms & Armor: Essays by Stephen V. Grancsay from the Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin 1920–1964. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1986. pp. 293–299; fig. 94.1.
Nickel, Helmut. "Arms and Armor from the Permanent Collection." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin (Summer 1991), pp. 38, 64, ill.
Pyhrr, Stuart W. "S. J. Whawell and the Art Market." The Eleventh Park Lane Arms Fair: Sunday 6th February 1994: the Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square, London W1: 10.30 AM–6.00 PM pp. 14–23, ill.
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