Cinquedea

Cinquedea, composed of a circular pommel, similar in form to that on A738, of gilt bronze with roped edge, sunk centre with a profile bust on either in relief; curved guard of gilt bronze, formed like acanthus leaves; grip of wood, spirally fluted, with remains of binding with copper wire woven to a basket pattern; flat blade with three, two and one hollow panels from base to point; the surface was at one time decorated with etached and fire-gilt figures and scrolls like A738-9, but little of this now remains.

Pommel and guards 19th century; blade possibly Italian, about 1500.

Provenance: A Beurdeley? (Une dague Vénetienne niellée, 1,500 fr. (with other pieces); Receipted Bill, 21st February, 1867); Comte de Nieuwerkerke.

Pommel and guards 19th-century; blade possibly Italian, about 1500.

A similar hilt is on a dagger with a 'cinquedea'-like blade in the Hohensalzburg; this or another very like it was in the von Berthold collection (sold Heberle, Cologne, 25-26 May 1898, lot 407, repr. in cat.). Another is in the Metropolitan Museum, New York (no. 26.145.59; Dean, Daggers, 1929, no. 86, pl. XXXII).