A Large Spanish Cup Hilt

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by RobertGuy

Jim
I was interested to see this and your comments on another thread about a shell hilted hanger.Here is a similar feature in the hilt of what I believe to be a 1728 Spanish Cavalry Officer's sword.

Thank you for your note Robert, and good observation on this feature on this Spanish cavalry sword in which this appears to be a guardopolvo but inside the hilt of an arming sword in rapier form . These 'patterns' as in this one regarded as 1728 were actually often loosely applied as usually that was the date of formal notice of the form, often already in use for a period of time.
It would be hard to say whether any symbolic importance might have been intended in this case or if simply an aesthetic mindful of the striations in so many of these hilt features with the shells. While the shell clearly has significant historical importance, in many cases it very well may have been used as a favored design which lent to pleasing character in the motif.

Regarding the 'anchor' often seen on blades, these indeed were typically placed at the terminus of fullers or enclosing inscriptions, but it is equally unclear in many cases whether simply an aesthetic flourish or whether there were deeper symbolisms imbued. The anchor itself was an early Christian symbol and associated in many cases with the cross. It is interesting to examine the ways these 'anchors' are often embellished and the variations in the numbers of cross bars etc. These seem to have certain similarities to various sigils and devices in other esoteric contexts.

All things to consider, but what makes the mysteries these weapons often hold so interesting