Ethnographic Arms & Armour
 

Go Back   Ethnographic Arms & Armour > Discussion Forums > European Armoury

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 16th February 2020, 12:59 PM   #1
mariusgmioc
Member
 
mariusgmioc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Austria
Posts: 1,860
Default Italian rapier signed PICININO

Hello,

Not so long ago, I have aquired this cup-hilted rapier.

The blade is signed ANTONIO on one side and PICININO on the other side.

What do you think about this?! Is this a genuine Antonio Picinino blade?!

Attached Images
     
mariusgmioc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16th February 2020, 03:11 PM   #2
fernando
Lead Moderator European Armoury
 
fernando's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,620
Default

Mmmm ... Look for his mark somewhere; like on the ricasso, under the hilt guard, for one.


.
Attached Images
 
fernando is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16th February 2020, 05:15 PM   #3
NeilUK
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Scotland
Posts: 122
Default

The Piccinino family, especially Antonio and his son Federico, were such famous bladesmiths that their signature was often forged to enhance the value of the sword, I would guess. I have seen the signature in smaller letters but that does not mean anything untoward. I have seen that 'anchor' mark before but can't remember who or where it refers to. The hilt looks like a quality Neapolitan or Spanish one, but again there is no reason why such a hilt should not be fitted to a Milanese blade. Whether the blade is genuine Piccinino or not you have a fine rapier.
Neil
NeilUK is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16th February 2020, 06:11 PM   #4
mariusgmioc
Member
 
mariusgmioc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Austria
Posts: 1,860
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by fernando
Mmmm ... Look for his mark somewhere; like on the ricasso, under the hilt guard, for one.

.
No other markings visible.

However, Antonio Picinino did not mark all his blades with the oval seal. See for example the rapier of Maximilian II (at the last page of the material cited at the link below).

https://static1.squarespace.com/stat...nceRapiers.pdf

Anyhow for sure the blade is of exceptional quality, at the right combination between stiffness and elasticity. And so is the engraving of the name with meticulously serifated letters.

Last edited by mariusgmioc; 16th February 2020 at 06:22 PM.
mariusgmioc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16th February 2020, 06:42 PM   #5
fernando
Lead Moderator European Armoury
 
fernando's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,620
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mariusgmioc
... However, Antonio Picinino did not mark all his blades with the oval seal. See for example the rapier of Maximilian II (at the last page of the material cited at the link below).

https://static1.squarespace.com/stat...nceRapiers.pdf ...
I was only suggesting .
On the other hand, Gyngell attributes the mark in the Maximilian II sword to a different Picinini; who is right ? .


.
Attached Images
  
fernando is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16th February 2020, 07:03 PM   #6
mariusgmioc
Member
 
mariusgmioc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Austria
Posts: 1,860
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by NeilUK
I have seen that 'anchor' mark before but can't remember who or where it refers to.
Neil
The anchor appears on many blades of various smiths from various epochs (see for example the rapier illustrated at the link below, page 5 bottom, page 6 bottom, as well as the Maximilian II rapier on last page), and its significance is quite debated. It may be simply decorative.

The overall quality of the rapier is indeed very good. Unfortunately, it was obviously over-cleaned and much detail of the hilt was lost... Yet, one can easily guess it was very meticulously done.

Last edited by mariusgmioc; 16th February 2020 at 07:29 PM.
mariusgmioc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16th February 2020, 07:04 PM   #7
mariusgmioc
Member
 
mariusgmioc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Austria
Posts: 1,860
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by fernando
who is right ? .
Yes!
mariusgmioc is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 05:20 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Posts are regarded as being copyrighted by their authors and the act of posting material is deemed to be a granting of an irrevocable nonexclusive license for display here.