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Northern European, probably English

Transitional Rapier

c. 1660
Steel, iron, silver, copper, wood

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In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

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FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

Transitioning from the long-bladed rapier, the reduced blade length and smaller guard size of this sword anticipate later smallswords. Like the contemporary cup-hilted rapiers displayed to the left, this sword was designed for a fencing style that relied almost entirely on the point. Its blackened iron hilt is finely encrusted with silver portraits of ancient Roman emperors.

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