RARE VARIATION 18TH CENTURY SPANISH OFFICER’S SWORD

Silvered brass hilt with remnants of silver in protected areas. Rare form oval guard, and wire wrapped grip with banded ferrules.  All the elements decorated in spiral fluting. See Espadas Espanolas, Momparler, p.90 for a sword with similar decorative motifs which the author attributes to Barcelona. He further states that the motifs are found on other examples with variant form guards, of which this is one. 26 ¾” flattened diamond section blade with gilt geometry panels at the base and foliage and military trophies above.  The blade length strongly suggests use by a naval officer which is consistent with Spanish colonial activity in the American Southwest and the Caribbean.