Mid 16th century AD. A German Renaissance 'hand-and-a-half' or 'Bastard' sword, with double ring guard, double edged broad blade; this gradually tapers towards its point; complex hilt, with pommel (style T5) pear-shaped, closed by a button on the top, very long tang, straight and circular cross-guard; the handle presents a double side guard on both sides and one additional ring on the lower part of the hilt, bowing towards the undecorated flat blade. See Fiore Furlan dei Liberi da Premariacco, Il fior di battaglia,Venezia /Italia /Padova, 1410, Ms. Getty inv. Ms. Ludwig XV 13 (83.MR.183); Oakeshott, E., The sword in the Age of the Chivalry, Woodbridge, 1964 (1994); Dufty, A.R., European Swords and daggers in the Tower of London, London, 1974; Talhoffer, H., Medieval Combat: a Fifteenth-Century Illustrated Manual of Swordfighting and Close-Quarter Combat, by Rector, M. (ed."). London, 2000; the sword has a good parallel with a German sword kept in the Tower of London, published by Dufty (1974, pl.14, lett.a), with which it shares identical characteristics, like the pear-shaped pommel. 1.5 kg, 1.27m (50"). From an important private family collection of arms and armour; acquired on the European art market in the 1980s, and thence by descent; believed to be from Liege, Belgium; accompanied by an academic report by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato.