Proto Mortuary Sword

Jim McDougall · Today, 09:32 PM

Thank you Keith! that note on this example corresponding to the Shotley production period from c.1687 is encouraging! I have always felt this was a British example of about that period, but of course the 'walloon' spectrum which included Continental contexts and the simplicity of the form makes it tough to say definitively.

Well noted on the 'timing' factor. The decorative motif on British sword hilts of early in the 17th century included sometimes elaborate foliage, which included the 'green man' theme which arose out of early traditions and lore. These facial characters seem to have gone from that theme to representing 'cavalier' type figures early in the century in some degree. Other fanciful themes often included ecclesiastically associated figures like cherubs etc.

It does not seem unusual that these facial figured motifs on these hilts, which were indeed produced still after 1650, would be presumed to represent Charles I , though of course that would be a presumption easily adopted.
This sort of jingoism is of course not uncommon.

As you note, with the colichemarde, it is like the pappenheimer, these eponyms became somewhat effective identifiers semantically for collectors referring to particular sword forms and features, though the certain connection to these personalities is of course apocryphal.

All very intriguing stuff as we look further into the swords of these times which were in use in the times of these 'mortuary swords'.

Today, 09:32 PM	#17
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,716	Thank you Keith! that note on this example corresponding to the Shotley production period from c.1687 is encouraging! I have always felt this was a British example of about that period, but of course the 'walloon' spectrum which included Continental contexts and the simplicity of the form makes it tough to say definitively. Well noted on the 'timing' factor. The decorative motif on British sword hilts of early in the 17th century included sometimes elaborate foliage, which included the 'green man' theme which arose out of early traditions and lore. These facial characters seem to have gone from that theme to representing 'cavalier' type figures early in the century in some degree. Other fanciful themes often included ecclesiastically associated figures like cherubs etc. It does not seem unusual that these facial figured motifs on these hilts, which were indeed produced still after 1650, would be presumed to represent Charles I , though of course that would be a presumption easily adopted. This sort of jingoism is of course not uncommon. As you note, with the colichemarde, it is like the pappenheimer, these eponyms became somewhat effective identifiers semantically for collectors referring to particular sword forms and features, though the certain connection to these personalities is of course apocryphal. All very intriguing stuff as we look further into the swords of these times which were in use in the times of these 'mortuary swords'.