Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Jim McDougall · 21st January 2016, 06:49 PM

Hi Mark,
Remiss in not responding to this sooner, and always exciting to see new items you post. These stag horn hilt hangers were of course always popular with officers and of course the shortened blade does often suggest naval use.
The fact that the patina corresponds to the sword overall in age is great confirmation of contemporary alteration.

What is most interesting is the scallop shell guard from the quillon center. In a concurrent thread on the large Spanish cup hilt we are discussing the presence of these striated scallop shell features which are a prevalent instance in many Spanish weapons. While this of course extends outside that sphere is well established, and it seems interesting to consider perhaps the presence of these on Dutch weapons perhaps from Spanish influence in the Netherlands ?
We know that English and Dutch weapons had strong parallels, which of course extended to America throughout the colonial periods.

Meanwhile, the scallop shell has profound presence in the well known Spanish colonial espada ancha, which may also account for cross influence.

It would be interesting to consider variations of these and other hangers attributed to different countries with this feature and more on this significant feature.
While there is perhaps often an inclination to associate the scallop shell to maritime themes, it is actually in Spanish parlance in my opinion, as many others, toward the symbol for St. James of Compostela.

Thanks for sharing this great example Mark. I always find that sort of hump back configuration on the horn grip intriguing.

21st January 2016, 06:49 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,747	Hi Mark, Remiss in not responding to this sooner, and always exciting to see new items you post. These stag horn hilt hangers were of course always popular with officers and of course the shortened blade does often suggest naval use. The fact that the patina corresponds to the sword overall in age is great confirmation of contemporary alteration. What is most interesting is the scallop shell guard from the quillon center. In a concurrent thread on the large Spanish cup hilt we are discussing the presence of these striated scallop shell features which are a prevalent instance in many Spanish weapons. While this of course extends outside that sphere is well established, and it seems interesting to consider perhaps the presence of these on Dutch weapons perhaps from Spanish influence in the Netherlands ? We know that English and Dutch weapons had strong parallels, which of course extended to America throughout the colonial periods. Meanwhile, the scallop shell has profound presence in the well known Spanish colonial espada ancha, which may also account for cross influence. It would be interesting to consider variations of these and other hangers attributed to different countries with this feature and more on this significant feature. While there is perhaps often an inclination to associate the scallop shell to maritime themes, it is actually in Spanish parlance in my opinion, as many others, toward the symbol for St. James of Compostela. Thanks for sharing this great example Mark. I always find that sort of hump back configuration on the horn grip intriguing.