Portuguese navigator sword for comments

fernando · 22nd February 2018, 11:12 AM

The book has arrived. The sword is magnificent.
Not much detail on its provenance, except for the observation (in text) that it is from the period of this navigator (beg. XVI century).
I will try and get further detail through some source.

.

Reventlov · 22nd February 2018, 02:32 PM

Thank you again, Fernando! The form of the hilt is familiar of course, but the surface decoration seems very different from other swords of this type...

kronckew · 22nd February 2018, 02:53 PM

Interesting, the ricasso area on one side is radiused , i'm guessing for a finger over the guard, tho the protective ring on that side seems to have been broken off...

fernando · 22nd February 2018, 04:02 PM

So i got an answer from my source, which humble translation follows:

"This is a sword of Portuguese fabrication, of the transition XV to XVI century, more specificaly speaking betwen 1495-1520, therefore purely "Manuelina" (1495-1521). Pommel and guard are from the same artist, well sculpted and very well embedded in silver. One of the button guards is missing, but it is not restored, as it is preferred to stay as it is. The blade is from one of the German smiths who then worked in Lisbon. Its inscription is characteristic: “ JVAN DE ALEMÃO” , that is “ João o Alemão” or “JOHANN DER DEUTSCHE”. The blade has a recess in the ricasso to lodge the index finger. An excelent combat sword, both fit fo thrust and cut, used by a person of social status, once it should have been rather expensive in the period. The pommel shape most modern for the period, already with the initial renaissance features, thus abandoning the late gothic. It shows a good blend of Portuguese and German sword, as it was appreciated in Lisbon at the time. "

fernando · 22nd February 2018, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kronckew

... tho the protective ring on that side seems to have been broken off...

Nothing you miss, Wayne

.

alexish · 23rd February 2018, 04:06 AM

Dear Collectors,

I think that the guard and quillon design on the Portuguese Navigator Sword must have somehow influenced the design of the elaborate Kastane sword of Sri Lanka. I hereby attach some pictures:

fernando · 23rd February 2018, 11:22 AM

Well alexish, if you spend some time browsing on this subject here in the forum, you will see that such possibility has been often discussed. However results are inconclusive, as proven evidence has not been established.

bvieira · 5th February 2021, 06:07 PM

Another one! comments are welcome.

Philip · 5th February 2021, 06:20 PM

Interesting. Looks like a recycled European saber blade? I'm wondering about the hilt, especially the grip/pommel junction. Front end of grip is darkened and shows wear from age, whereas rear looks relatively fresh, and its flat-sawn end stands apart from the globosity of the pommel. The guard looks right to me and the way the ricasso of the blade has been trimmed to fit the arms descending from the écusson is appropriate to the European antecedents to these African weapons. I don't know enough about equatorial African arms to tell whether the grooved spherical pommel is culturally appropriate in form and manufacture, but hopefully another forumite familiar with this material can comment.

Thanks for posting this example.

22nd February 2018, 11:12 AM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	The book has arrived. The sword is magnificent. Not much detail on its provenance, except for the observation (in text) that it is from the period of this navigator (beg. XVI century). I will try and get further detail through some source. . Attached Images

23rd February 2018, 04:06 AM	#6
alexish Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Posts: 127	Influence on Sri lankan Kastane sword Dear Collectors, I think that the guard and quillon design on the Portuguese Navigator Sword must have somehow influenced the design of the elaborate Kastane sword of Sri Lanka. I hereby attach some pictures: Attached Images

5th February 2021, 06:07 PM	#8
bvieira Member Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 108	Another one! comments are welcome. Attached Images

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22nd February 2018, 02:32 PM	#2
Reventlov Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 140	Thank you again, Fernando! The form of the hilt is familiar of course, but the surface decoration seems very different from other swords of this type...

22nd February 2018, 02:53 PM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,249	Interesting, the ricasso area on one side is radiused , i'm guessing for a finger over the guard, tho the protective ring on that side seems to have been broken off...

22nd February 2018, 04:02 PM	#4
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	So i got an answer from my source, which humble translation follows: "This is a sword of Portuguese fabrication, of the transition XV to XVI century, more specificaly speaking betwen 1495-1520, therefore purely "Manuelina" (1495-1521). Pommel and guard are from the same artist, well sculpted and very well embedded in silver. One of the button guards is missing, but it is not restored, as it is preferred to stay as it is. The blade is from one of the German smiths who then worked in Lisbon. Its inscription is characteristic: “ JVAN DE ALEMÃO” , that is “ João o Alemão” or “JOHANN DER DEUTSCHE”. The blade has a recess in the ricasso to lodge the index finger. An excelent combat sword, both fit fo thrust and cut, used by a person of social status, once it should have been rather expensive in the period. The pommel shape most modern for the period, already with the initial renaissance features, thus abandoning the late gothic. It shows a good blend of Portuguese and German sword, as it was appreciated in Lisbon at the time. "

23rd February 2018, 11:22 AM	#7
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Well alexish, if you spend some time browsing on this subject here in the forum, you will see that such possibility has been often discussed. However results are inconclusive, as proven evidence has not been established.

5th February 2021, 06:20 PM	#9
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	Interesting. Looks like a recycled European saber blade? I'm wondering about the hilt, especially the grip/pommel junction. Front end of grip is darkened and shows wear from age, whereas rear looks relatively fresh, and its flat-sawn end stands apart from the globosity of the pommel. The guard looks right to me and the way the ricasso of the blade has been trimmed to fit the arms descending from the écusson is appropriate to the European antecedents to these African weapons. I don't know enough about equatorial African arms to tell whether the grooved spherical pommel is culturally appropriate in form and manufacture, but hopefully another forumite familiar with this material can comment. Thanks for posting this example.