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Originally Posted by Jim McDougall
What an interesting post Gene!!
Its funny, I never realized how much is in a simple component like a scabbard mount like this, and how intriguing it is just to look at its motif.
While we seem to always be focused on the weapons comprehensively, and make cursory note of individual elements, there is seldom such key focus as this.
Perhaps that is why in the field of Japanese swords there are those who collect tsuba only. I have even heard of instances of collectors whose field is entirely on scabbards, which I must admit seems very unusual.
In studying Asian swords, and the development of sword forms westward, there was an entire study by Trousdale on the development of the scabbard slide, and examples discovered archaeologically.
I just wanted to note as an aside.
All best regards,
Jim
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Hi Jim,
Thanks for your input, I think you've mirrored my own interest in this piece.
First I saw it and thought 'shamshir' mount. Then (once I'd bought it) I started to look at the decoration. In fact I wondered briefly if it was Chinese because of the shape of the suspension loop.
I suppose the shape could just as easily represent a dome?
I was a bit puzzled by the 'clover' design as well, but then (exactly as you pointed out) I realised that despite having seen many probobly similar mounts still in situ over the years, I've never really studied them closely because I've always been looking at the sword itself.
Regards
Gene
P.S. Any ideas/thoughts on this one in particular?
