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Old 10th January 2019, 02:04 PM   #6
fernando
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
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It is amazing how these Mameluke style swords 'digressed' into a path of luxury, their ostentation attempts reaching exponential limits. Some examples are so breathtaking that it hurts to watch them.
This 'specimen' from the Royal collection kept in the Armoury of the Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa may not the be an extreme achievement, but certainly mid way to it. All parts are gold (not golden), with the Paris proof house hallmark circa 1809; except for the grip, which is jade.
Such a pity that the picture in the catalog is rather small and the details can not be clearly appreciated. Just for perusal (all) chiselled motifs include Hercules fighting the lion, chariots pulled by oxen and deer carrying persons, a knight protected by a buckler, the head of Minerva, a woman figure, man and woman heads, volutes, palmettes, lyres, amphors, horses, arabescs.
This certainly is not a fighting sword but, surely a sword i would fight for


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