Rare et imposant fauchard de cérémonie gravé... - Lot 68 - Pierre Bergé & Associés

Rare et imposant fauchard de cérémonie gravé et doré, falcione, de la guilde des fondeurs de canons de Brescia, présent entre les villes vénitiennes de Brescia et Udine en 1679, Venétie vers 1670-79. A rare and massive Venetian decorated processional glaive of the Brescian Gun Founders' Guild, presented between the Venetian cities of Brescia and Udine in 1679, circa 1670-79. With long flat cleaver-like blade of exaggerated proportions formed with a very large leafy scroll projecting from the back, further small fl eur-de-lys projections at the base and at the centre of the back-edge, and the base with a tang encased within a faceted socket with long straps, both sides of the blade gilt over their lower half and engraved and punched in a characteristically coarse style, including the figure of St. Barbara surmounting a mantled and helmeted vacant oval, an artillery piece and a trophy of antique armour below, the presentation inscription stamped in small capitals in two parts over the respective sides, decorated with further trophies of arms and armour over the length of the rear projection, and the socket decorated en suite, on a heavy fabric-covered haft profusely studded with decorative patterns of domed brass nails. H. head: 97 cm - H. overall: 288 cm. The inscriptions read: "Venderono Li Bombardieri Di Brescia 1679", and "Et Donate Alla Cita D'Udene (sic.) Dal NN Giacomo Gabriel 1679". Giacomo Gabriel(li) was Mayor and Governor of the city of Brescia. The cities of Brescia and Udine were under Venetian control until 1796 and 1797 respectively; Udine was the second city of that state. Glaives of similarly massive proportions and decorated in a similar manner were carried by the Dalmatian Guard of the Doges of Venice and by the armed retinues of several Venetian noble families