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4th March 2023, 12:12 AM | #1 | |
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Here are photos of the four-crosses mark on three of the four Moldavian swords. I think a common origin can be safely assumed. No. 2639 has a type XXb blade, while the hilt has stereotypical Hungarian features: recurved quillons and squarish pommel. The marks on it are a little different: two thick crosses, and between them what seems to be an Italianate "twig" or knot mark. This thread is useful for comparison. Later I will share some examples that have more clearly Italian markings. No. 2643 has the same type of hilt and is of more typical proportions. I will add also no. 2634, which appears to be another XXb, but the style of hilt is one very common in Germany at this time. The guards of both of these are covered in silver foil, which seems to be a Hungarian/Transylvanian trend. These and a number of other similar and contemporary swords are generally assumed to have been taken from Hungary by the Ottomans after the Battle of Mohacs (1526). - Mark |
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4th March 2023, 12:26 AM | #2 |
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I was already intending to post about no. 2633 next, as it has some other different but distinct features. The pommel is generally similar to previous examples, but octagonal instead of square. The guard is also silvered, and includes a tubular "rainguard" around the base of the blade. This can also be seen on the Dragoș sword. Alexander suggests this is another typical feature of Southeastern European swords (though it is not exclusively so). There is a coat-of-arms on the blade, half of bars (difficult to make out in photo) and half of teeth(?), which might refer to the house of Báthory.
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4th March 2023, 12:16 PM | #3 |
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One more sword with typical East European features. Not sure where I got this pic from. Multiple fullers (very similar to those on Stephen's, although a bit wavy). S-guard associated with the Kingdom of Hungary. Square-ish pommel.
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5th March 2023, 11:07 AM | #4 |
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More frescos from Dobromir the painter (before 1526) - church of the Argeș monastery, Wallachia. Triple fullers. http://clasate.cimec.ro/detaliu.asp?...08BEAC98E52292
http://clasate.cimec.ro/detaliu.asp?...1226B3B7C78102 http://clasate.cimec.ro/Detaliu_en.a...35AEC4ECF786F3 http://clasate.cimec.ro/Detaliu_en.a...E7A44BF19C41C7 http://clasate.cimec.ro/detaliu.asp?...60C3C0518072E4 http://clasate.cimec.ro/detaliu.asp?...65AFDBAC6AAD6C http://clasate.cimec.ro/detaliu.asp?...9EA588D0529B3A http://clasate.cimec.ro/Detaliu.asp?...78465BEFE65A33 The church of the Argeș monastery, founded by ruler Neagoe Basarab and Despina, was consecrated with great pomp on August 15, 1517. On this date, the monastic buildings were not finished either, the church being unpainted. The painting of the monument will be done during the reign of Radu de la Afumați (1522/1523 – 1524/1529) married to Neagoe's daughter, Roxanda, finishing in 1526, as the painted picture in the porch informs us. The text of the writing also tells us that the delay in the execution of the painting was due to the wars with the Turks, and it was completed on September 10. 1526 by Dobromir, at the urging of Mrs. Despina. |
7th March 2023, 12:35 AM | #5 | |
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13th March 2023, 04:22 PM | #6 |
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One more example with S-quillons. https://mandadb.hu/tetel/577309/Kardtoredek
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15th March 2023, 01:23 AM | #7 |
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Here is another distinctive sword in the Hungarian National Museum. The oblong octagonal pommel is similar to previous examples, but of higher quality with an inset emblem (possibly a coin?). The blade is again type XXb. The quillons have extended from an S-shape to a closed figure-8. Probably this coincides with the development of the famous German katzbalgers in the 16th century. The hilt has another cuff-like metal "rainguard" as seen on other presumably Hungarian swords posted above.
The museum has another very similar but much plainer example. An overall very similar sword comes from the Dresden Armoury. The multi-fullered blade is stamped with distinctive knot-like marks that suggest an Italian origin, perhaps Belluno specifically. The marks on the first sword are likewise Italian in style. A painting of c. 1505-15 in the Museum of Lower Austria shows a very similar sword (only a different pommel), and of course figure-8 guards are well-documented in Germany in this period. The painting and the Dresden sword have quillons which end in distinct knobs, which is seen in many other German artworks. These are absent in the two Hungarian swords, so perhaps this is a regional peculiarity within the international trend. |
15th March 2023, 08:52 AM | #8 |
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Excellent finds Mark!
I can agree that the knob-ends on the quillons seem to be a germanic trait (Austrian to be more precise). The last sword has some very interesting fullers. Namely, 3-4 fullers, very narrow, very close together. This type of fullers will become quite common on sabre/dusack and backsword blades (of Austrian or North Italian manufacture) later on. Checkout these two Hungarian sabres, my guess from the 1550s to the 1590s. Also notice the gold wire wrap, another common trait on these mid-to-late 16th century Hungarian (and sometimes Polish) sabres. Makes me wonder if the wire wrap on the first sword you posted is a later addition. http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...9&postcount=39 https://skd-online-collection.skd.mu...s/Index/284576 ===================== I found this one, but can't get mo info on it. https://www.pius-kirchgessner.de/05_...e/Petrus_2.htm ================ One thing that puzzles me is the lack of one-handed examples, other than those on Dobromir's frescos. Last edited by Teisani; 15th March 2023 at 09:44 AM. |
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