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Old 18th February 2013, 11:59 AM   #2
Jim McDougall
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Route 66
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Extremely nice example Lorenzo, and very nicely presented with great description and accompanying illustrations. I think the seller has actually done a pretty good job of describing this sword, which indeed appears to be a latter 19th century representation of traditional Hispano-Moresque form swords as shown. The baldric type mounts are of course much favored in Arabian swords, and in motif very much recalling the jineta forms of edged weapons characteristic of Moorish Spain.
The scabbard and blade suggest this to be a court or dress type sword with military character, and quite possibly from regions in North Africa. It is likely to be more regalia oriented than military respite the nature of the mounts. It would be interesting to see if comparable examples are known.
The reason it is nearly impossible to acquire original Moorish swords is that only a few survive, typically as noted in Istanbul, and of course the influence remains profoundly in Toledo and much of Spain.
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