A SPANISH LEFT-HAND DAGGER, SECOND HALF OF THE 17TH CENTURY

A SPANISH LEFT-HAND DAGGER, SECOND HALF OF THE 17TH CENTURY with tapering blade formed in two-stages, the upper portion double-edged and the lower formed with a scalloped design along the back-edge, rectangular ricasso pierced with a pair of shaped scrolling apertures, engraved with stars and rondels on one face and with a bladesmith's mark (indistinct), the inner face hollowed for the thumb, steel hilt comprising a pair of straight spirally-fluted quillons with trumpet-shaped terminals, curved triangular guard formed with a rounded turned edge with three groups of fluting on each side, the outer face engraved 'M de E' in large scrolling letters, spirally fluted bun-shaped pommel, and the grip bound with a later plaited brass wire binding between 'Turk's heads' (areas of light pitting) 37.8 cm; 14 7/8 in blade