German Arms, War Hammer and Left Hand Daggers, Antique Print, 1851

This is an original antique chromolithograph, printed in colors, from Le Moyen Âge et la Renaissance, lettered "ARMES ALLEMANDES. Marteau (XVe Siècle). Mains-gauche (XVIe Siècle). exécution au tiers des originaux. Collection de Mr le Prince Soltykoff". At the center stands a war hammer with an axe blade, a hooked beak, a twisted shaft and a dark studded grip. At the left is a dagger with cross guard and ringed grip, sheathed in a dark scabbard decorated in silver with a double headed eagle and scrolling ornament, two small knife handles rising from its side. At the right is a second dagger with a fluted pommel and pierced guard, its long sheath ringed and patterned in silver on black. Between them are a small knife and a slender bodkin, and below two small fittings.

The running heads read "LE MOYEN-AGE ET LA RENAISSANCE." and "ARMURERIE." Beneath the image are the credits "A. Rivaud del.", "Chromolith. Lemercier, rue de Seine 57, Paris." and "H. Moulin lith.", and below the caption "F. Séré direxit". The caption translates as: German arms. Hammer (fifteenth century). Left hand daggers (sixteenth century). Drawn at one third of the size of the originals. Collection of Prince Soltykoff.

Le Moyen Âge et la Renaissance was published in Paris in five volumes between 1848 and 1851. Paul Lacroix, who also wrote as the Bibliophile Jacob, edited the text, and Ferdinand Séré directed the illustrations, which is what the line "F. Séré direxit" on the plates records. The work surveys the customs, trades, sciences, arts and literature of Europe from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. Its arms and armor plates appear under the running head "ARMURERIE" and draw on collections such as that of Prince Soltykoff in Paris. The plates are chromolithographs, printed in color from a series of stones rather than colored by hand. This plate comes from the fourth volume, issued in 1851.

The tall, cool gray composition suits a narrow frame and hangs well with the other German arms plates of the section.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.