Cup-Hilted Rapier
mid-17th century
Medium
Steel, wood, iron, leather
Dimensions
L. 44 1/2 in. (113 cm); L. of blade 40 1/4 in. (102.2 cm); W. 11 in. (27.9 cm); D. 5 1/4 in. (13.3 cm); Wt. 2 lb. 1 oz. (935.53 g)
Classification
Swords
Culture
German, Solingen; hilt, possibly Spanish
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of William H. Riggs, 1913
Accession Number
14.25.1066
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of 17th-century swordplay with this exquisite cup-hilted rapier, by the renowned Solingen bladesmith Peter Tes around the mid-1600s. Hailing from Germany's "City of Blades," Solingen was Europe's premier hub for fine edged weapons, where master smiths like Tesche forged superior steel blades prized for their balance and durability. This rapier, with its slender 40¼-inch blade and protective cup-shaped steel hilt—possibly of Spanish influence—exemplifies the era's blend of deadly functionality and elegant design. The wooden grip wrapped in leather, accented by iron fittings,...