Strange Dagger in 16th Century Dutch Painting

Matchlock · 31st December 2010, 06:56 PM

Hi Chris,

Now I understand your partiality for those daggers - it's no wonder at all as the illustrated Frontiersman sample doubtlessly corresponds to, or is well based on, the so-called Maximilian type of ca. 1500 German Grosses Messer and contemporary daggers, showing the same stylized bird's head pommel.

Sadly my

scanner is on strike at the moment but I will try and post some originals of ca. 1500 soon.

From my computer archives, I attach details showing the latest form of a bird's head pommel on a backsword, from a painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder of 1535, titled Judith with the head of Holofernes.

Best,
Michael

31st December 2010, 06:56 PM	#11
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi Chris, Now I understand your partiality for those daggers - it's no wonder at all as the illustrated Frontiersman sample doubtlessly corresponds to, or is well based on, the so-called Maximilian type of ca. 1500 German Grosses Messer and contemporary daggers, showing the same stylized bird's head pommel. Sadly my scanner is on strike at the moment but I will try and post some originals of ca. 1500 soon. From my computer archives, I attach details showing the latest form of a bird's head pommel on a backsword, from a painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder of 1535, titled Judith with the head of Holofernes. Best, Michael Attached Images