Unknown European Sword

Jim McDougall · 4th April 2017, 08:03 PM

Very nice sleuthing Norman!!!
This one has been driving me nuts

and as Carlos noted, the hilt style in very much in line with Spanish officers swords, but this classical noir theme is really a puzzle. I found a bronze Chinese sword (B.C.) which had a warrior or human face forward, with the Chinese type dragon heads on each side facing outward in the same configuration.
It is clear this is a courtly sword of some kind, and in this sphere (Iberia, France and Italy) classical themes seem to have been employed allegorically quite often in material culture, extending into weaponry fashion.

It would be great to find out what this arrangement means, and it is amazing you found these other examples!!!

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4th April 2017, 08:03 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,196	Very nice sleuthing Norman!!! This one has been driving me nuts and as Carlos noted, the hilt style in very much in line with Spanish officers swords, but this classical noir theme is really a puzzle. I found a bronze Chinese sword (B.C.) which had a warrior or human face forward, with the Chinese type dragon heads on each side facing outward in the same configuration. It is clear this is a courtly sword of some kind, and in this sphere (Iberia, France and Italy) classical themes seem to have been employed allegorically quite often in material culture, extending into weaponry fashion. It would be great to find out what this arrangement means, and it is amazing you found these other examples!!!