The museum is constantly looking for interesting examples of fencing
history and among the latest acquisitions are:
case
of late 19th century Italian duelling foils with scabbards – used
by the popular Italian politician and survivor of 32 duels, Felice
Cavalotti, whose last fatal duel was vividly described by Aldo
Nadi in The Living Sword
Click for a larger image
pair
of late 19th century French foils made by Souzy with distinctive
Renaissance-style decorative brass guards
residue of Charles de Beaumont's fencing
library, including Leon Bertrand's Cut and Thrust, 1927,
with the inscription "To my irrespressible and ultra-successful pupil
from his satisfied 'maestro' Leon Bertrand"
1902 French catalogue from Balp fils with
illustrations of the extraordinary range of guards and pommels available
at the turn of the 20th century