Extremely Rare Antique 18th century silver mounted Hungarian aristocrat sword which is not only a historical weapon but an important example of 18th century Hungarian Goldsmith Art.

DETAILS: A solid silver stirrup hilt of typical 18th century Hungarian hussar form with an elaborate knuckle bow pair of langets, downbend rear quillon decorated with chiselled rococo floral design. A wooden grip bound in burgundy velvet and fitted with solid silver straps elaborately shaped and decorated in open work, repoussé, and finely chiselled with rococo foliage and scrolls. A long slightly curved single edged flat back steel blade, cut with a broad full-length fuller and a short slender fuller along the back-edge.Both sides of the blade are engraved with a scrollwork panel, and the mounted hussar wielding a sword. The sword comes with its original burgundy velvet covered wooden scabbard with large solid silver mounts decorated the same as the grip straps where it is elaborately shaped and decorated in open work, repoussé, and finely chiselled with rococo foliage and scrolls. The silver hilt and the scabbard mountings are fully hallmarked with imperial Austrian assay office marks “13” with the date 1750 and the small rectangular Goldsmith mark with illegible initials possibly “MI” or “IW” (7 hallmarks in total).


References: International Hallmarks on Silver by Tardy (page 68).


There are only a few examples of these 18th century Hungarian luxury sabres that are preserved in Hungarian museums. Most of them are associated with the important Hungarian aristocrats. Since there are only a few of these swords, the pictures of these few swords are continually published in Hungarian museum books.


Four of these types of swords from the Hungarian sate museum were displayed on exhibition Europalia 99 Hungaria, which took place in Brussels in October 1999 and were displayed as the most significant Hungarian artworks from 1000 A.D. to 1800 A.D., including arms and armour and they are published in the book, Hongaarse Wapenpraal by Tibor Kovacs (page 105, No.88).


Thus the swords are also published in the following references:
Kardok" by Jozsef Lugosi - Ferenc Temesvari (No. 138-139)
Vas, ezüst és arany - Nemzeti történelmünk fegyverei, szerző: Temesváry Ferenc (Plate No. 12)


Another similar sword is published in the book “Baroque Splendor Art of Hungarian Goldsmith” by Istvan Fodor (page 204, No. 196).


We will also provide the buyer with photocopies of the pages from the mentioned references together with a certificate of authenticity.



CONDITION: This sword is in good condition considering its age to be over 250 years showing its age and usage, blade slightly pitted with some nicks from combat on the edge. Wear to the engravings. No repairs or restorations.


MEASUREMENTS
Overall length with the scabbard: 91 cm (35.83 inches)
Overall length without the scabbard: 88 cm (34.65 inches)
Length of the blade: 73.8 cm (29.05 inches)


Being over 40 years in the antique business, for the first time we were fortunate to acquire such a rare sword. This particular sword had been obtained together with other rare eastern European antiques, including antique Polish, Hungarian, and related Eastern European arms and armour from an old Canadian collection.


Most of the Hungarian silver mounted luxury sabres which appear from time to time, that are for sale, are costume swords made in the second half of the 19th century in the style of authentic 17th-18th century sword and are meant to be worn on special occasion with national Hungarian nobility costumes that are also made in the pattern of 17th -18th century Hungarian nobility costumes. To find an authentic antique silver mounted Hungarian aristocrat’s luxury combat sabre from the middle of the 18th century outside museums is almost impossible. So this is once in a lifetime opportunity for a collector of high-end swords to acquire this rare sabre.

Antique Arms and Armor