Andria Ferara Blade

Bryce · 16th July 2020, 03:14 AM

Thanks Jim,
I forgot to include some dimensions with my original post. The backsword blade is 90cm long and 3.2cm wide at the ricasso. It is double-edged for the last 30cm. Below is a mortuary hilt from the Royal Armouries collection with an almost identical blade.
Cheers,
Bryce

Jim McDougall · 16th July 2020, 02:39 PM

Thank you Bryce for the images of that mortuary! I had not thought of that type fullering being that early, but now recalling that seen on numbers of Scot basket hilt blades of that period it makes sense.
I remember thinking it was odd to see an ANDREA FERARA on my mortuary which is c.1640's, but then the Solingen blades were coming into England as well as Scotland. It was the OLD notion that Andrea Ferara blades were keenly Scottish, now well dispelled that put that thought in mind.

This inscriptions with doubled ANDREA on one side and double FERARA on the other, the oriental style letters and use of 'I' instead of 'E' in ANDREA are most curious. It is surprising how much this famed name has inspired so many interpretations with not only quality, but magical imbuement implied.
While not expecting officers to necessarily adhere to such notions, it was the matter of fashion and status that compelled them in these interesting sword features.

Bryce · 16th July 2020, 10:54 PM

Here is another example from the net with the same blade fullering and Andria Ferara placed the same way.
Cheers,
Bryce

Jim McDougall · 17th July 2020, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryce

Here is another example from the net with the same blade fullering and Andria Ferara placed the same way.
Cheers,
Bryce

Hmmmm! Velly interesting!

We seem to have had a purveyor using the same artisan or shop, would be great to figure who and where, but thats not likely.
Either way, sure looks like a heirloom blade placed in the 1788.

Will M · 17th July 2020, 12:57 PM

Bryce I can see this sword having a family blade. If only it could speak as to the family name it belongs to. This is one pattern I'd like to add to my collection.

Jim McDougall · 17th July 2020, 05:01 PM

It might be a heirloom blade , and I did not realize these were 18th c. fuller pattern, but these mortuary examples speak volumes. If only the purveyors of imported blades had records of the decoration often applied to them as they were supplied to 'sword slippers' as per weapons for officers and gentry.

We know that certain 'Ferara' blades had numerous variations, for example certain known examples had the Wundes kings heads, four in number, which alternated with the Andrea Ferara letters. This feature is actually described in an article or some published document or ad. In many cases blades being sold in the 18th century were advertised, as described in Aylward ("The Small Sword in England", 1945).
We know that there was a 'fluer de lis' street located , I believe, in London, where imported blades were sold/auctioned in bundles, and many blades marked with fluer de lis device center blade are known, of 18th c. There is a long held convention that this device signals French attribution, however clearly it is not.

With these interesting, to my eye at least, letters (the misspelled Andrea not withstanding) which seem to be oriental, specifically Chinese, there seems a possibility of some connection to the East Indies trade. Officers would commission swords of course, which signifies India, however there were Chinese ports in these networks. Might there be a tenuous connection to the EIC?
While 'mortuary' swords are notoriously associated with the English civil wars, it would seem thier use (which actually predated those events) might have found use outside that context. Perhaps looking into records and examples of other English swords and items with these trade contexts might bring some clues? i.e. other items marked with this oriental 'chop' type styling.

The weapons often do 'talk'

, but it up to us to find the questions to ask, and even the most subtle clues can offer at least reasonably plausible answers. Though typically not empirically provable, these answers can be most compelling.

Bryce · 18th July 2020, 01:37 AM

G'day Guys,
I actually purchased this sword 4 months ago, but it has only just arrived. USPS misplaced it for over 3 months?

In the mean time I had forgotten how many early to mid 17th century examples of this style of blade I had found searching the net. I couldn't find any 18th century examples.

Jim, I think any connection to the East based on the blade engraving style may be very tenuous indeed. Could this actually be a Hounslow blade? There is evidence that the 17th century cutler Benjamin Stone got into trouble for putting "false marks" on his blades.

Cheers,
Bryce

16th July 2020, 03:14 AM	#1
Bryce Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: North Queensland, Australia Posts: 189	Thanks Jim, I forgot to include some dimensions with my original post. The backsword blade is 90cm long and 3.2cm wide at the ricasso. It is double-edged for the last 30cm. Below is a mortuary hilt from the Royal Armouries collection with an almost identical blade. Cheers, Bryce Attached Images

16th July 2020, 10:54 PM	#3
Bryce Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: North Queensland, Australia Posts: 189	Here is another example from the net with the same blade fullering and Andria Ferara placed the same way. Cheers, Bryce Attached Images

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16th July 2020, 02:39 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,410	Thank you Bryce for the images of that mortuary! I had not thought of that type fullering being that early, but now recalling that seen on numbers of Scot basket hilt blades of that period it makes sense. I remember thinking it was odd to see an ANDREA FERARA on my mortuary which is c.1640's, but then the Solingen blades were coming into England as well as Scotland. It was the OLD notion that Andrea Ferara blades were keenly Scottish, now well dispelled that put that thought in mind. This inscriptions with doubled ANDREA on one side and double FERARA on the other, the oriental style letters and use of 'I' instead of 'E' in ANDREA are most curious. It is surprising how much this famed name has inspired so many interpretations with not only quality, but magical imbuement implied. While not expecting officers to necessarily adhere to such notions, it was the matter of fashion and status that compelled them in these interesting sword features.

17th July 2020, 12:57 PM	#5
Will M Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: In the wee woods north of Napanee Ontario Posts: 395	Bryce I can see this sword having a family blade. If only it could speak as to the family name it belongs to. This is one pattern I'd like to add to my collection.

17th July 2020, 05:01 PM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,410	It might be a heirloom blade , and I did not realize these were 18th c. fuller pattern, but these mortuary examples speak volumes. If only the purveyors of imported blades had records of the decoration often applied to them as they were supplied to 'sword slippers' as per weapons for officers and gentry. We know that certain 'Ferara' blades had numerous variations, for example certain known examples had the Wundes kings heads, four in number, which alternated with the Andrea Ferara letters. This feature is actually described in an article or some published document or ad. In many cases blades being sold in the 18th century were advertised, as described in Aylward ("The Small Sword in England", 1945). We know that there was a 'fluer de lis' street located , I believe, in London, where imported blades were sold/auctioned in bundles, and many blades marked with fluer de lis device center blade are known, of 18th c. There is a long held convention that this device signals French attribution, however clearly it is not. With these interesting, to my eye at least, letters (the misspelled Andrea not withstanding) which seem to be oriental, specifically Chinese, there seems a possibility of some connection to the East Indies trade. Officers would commission swords of course, which signifies India, however there were Chinese ports in these networks. Might there be a tenuous connection to the EIC? While 'mortuary' swords are notoriously associated with the English civil wars, it would seem thier use (which actually predated those events) might have found use outside that context. Perhaps looking into records and examples of other English swords and items with these trade contexts might bring some clues? i.e. other items marked with this oriental 'chop' type styling. The weapons often do 'talk' , but it up to us to find the questions to ask, and even the most subtle clues can offer at least reasonably plausible answers. Though typically not empirically provable, these answers can be most compelling.

18th July 2020, 01:37 AM	#7
Bryce Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: North Queensland, Australia Posts: 189	G'day Guys, I actually purchased this sword 4 months ago, but it has only just arrived. USPS misplaced it for over 3 months? In the mean time I had forgotten how many early to mid 17th century examples of this style of blade I had found searching the net. I couldn't find any 18th century examples. Jim, I think any connection to the East based on the blade engraving style may be very tenuous indeed. Could this actually be a Hounslow blade? There is evidence that the 17th century cutler Benjamin Stone got into trouble for putting "false marks" on his blades. Cheers, Bryce