EUROPEAN HUNTING SWORD OF SUPERB QUALITY CA.1760

This beautiful hunting sword dates from the second half of 18th century.
Originally a trousse, both the fork and the by-knife are long gone. Polished steel hilt supports the beautifully carved grip. Blade is superbly etched with two hunting scenes, which run along the whole length of both sides of the blade, and feature baroque hunting scenes, which are significantly above average in workmanship and artistic composition.

The obverse side displays a wooded landscape, a hunter with his club-butt long-rifle, his his dog barking up a deer, which are hiding in the forest.
Reverse side of the blade is decorated with another hunting scene, picturing a hunter with a hunting spear, a deer that is about to die, and a hunting dog. Two other deer are running away, towards the point of the blade.

The execution of the etchings is quite magnificent, and is reminiscent of the small Dutch baroque paintings.

Blade is 59 cm long, 4.5 cm wide, massive, with a 20 cm long false edge.
Original leather over wood scabbard is in fine shape, with some scoffs and scratches. Scabbard mounts are en suite with the hilt. An old collection or museum tag is attached to the locket. A museum-quality piece.