Property from a Central European Collection A FINE GERMAN EXECUTIONER'S SWORD, DATED 1684 with broad heavy double-edged blade formed with a characteristic rounded tip, etched at the forte with Christ crucified, the inscription 'Justicia', three men suspended from a gibbet, an execution scene and a pious inscription on one side, and with Christ crucified, a wheel dividing further pious inscriptions and an oval panel filled with verse including the date on the other (the etching worn), brass hilt comprising a pair of straight moulded quilllons with spirally-fluted globular terminals, incised with the date on one side of the cross-piece and the initials 'IH' on the other, and faceted plummet-shaped pommel en suite with the quillons over the upper portion, and retaining its original grip of plaited string (the cross-pieces loose), in its leather-covered wooden scabbard with large brass mounts 83.1 cm; 32 3/4 in blade Provenance E. Oser Collection, Basel, sold Dr.Störi Kunstsalon, Zurich, 6th December 1929, lot 146 Baron Hans de Schulthess (1885-1951) Sold in this room 10th December 2008, lot 123 The inscriptions include: 'Veracht nit mich und die mein....shaven dich unddied....nie....chavandich und....mich vatheie nit wietumi ....h sicht wer was o.tuay ...ch frumb bist...a anno 1684'