Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Jim McDougall · 11th May 2015, 11:15 PM

Hi Norman,
The TOMAS DE AIALA name was from Tomas Ayala of Madrid ( who is also noted Toledo as he was of course of these smiths) and his son Luis who was in Barcelona. They worked c.1566-1620 but more on their exact dates and locations is unclear among arms writers.
The Tomas Aiala name, like Andrea Ferara, became one of those names of famed makers which became a sort of trademark, and appeared on blades from Italy (c 1620s) and Germany later..in fact into 18th century.

The JESUS MARIA was used by Milanese armourers (Wagner, 1967, p.173) as well as apparently by the Ayalas In any case the combination of these names and variations of spurious Toledo marks often are seen.

In my opinion , the occurrence of the 'anchor' device suggests a Solingen version here probably 17th century using the Ayala 'trademark'.

I have seen rapier blades with Jesus Maria and Toledo marks as late as 18th century (with Ayala though) as a good number were discovered in a wreck off Central America in the 80s. These, like the 'Spanish Motto' blades were shipped in good numbers to Spains colonies from Solingen producers.

11th May 2015, 11:15 PM	#7
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,742	Hi Norman, The TOMAS DE AIALA name was from Tomas Ayala of Madrid ( who is also noted Toledo as he was of course of these smiths) and his son Luis who was in Barcelona. They worked c.1566-1620 but more on their exact dates and locations is unclear among arms writers. The Tomas Aiala name, like Andrea Ferara, became one of those names of famed makers which became a sort of trademark, and appeared on blades from Italy (c 1620s) and Germany later..in fact into 18th century. The JESUS MARIA was used by Milanese armourers (Wagner, 1967, p.173) as well as apparently by the Ayalas In any case the combination of these names and variations of spurious Toledo marks often are seen. In my opinion , the occurrence of the 'anchor' device suggests a Solingen version here probably 17th century using the Ayala 'trademark'. I have seen rapier blades with Jesus Maria and Toledo marks as late as 18th century (with Ayala though) as a good number were discovered in a wreck off Central America in the 80s. These, like the 'Spanish Motto' blades were shipped in good numbers to Spains colonies from Solingen producers.