A Beautiful Vikingsword, 9th Century!

fernando · 27th January 2011, 07:41 PM

What an aesthetic issue you are addressing, Michl

I would say that this is a magnificent sword, with an intrinsic value, admittedly greater than tat of a takouba.
But in photogenic terms i guess that we have already seen in tis forum, mainly posted by you but not only, specimens more appealing, as more fit to make the cliche of a (forum) logo.
This without forgetting that the takouba depicted in the forum is rather photogenic, apart from its relative intrisic value, other than cultural.
We must not forget that (first), our mother forum has been originaly developed for an Ethnographic horizon and (second but not less important), the forum owner loves takoubas

; not that he doesn't like Vicking swords, though

A different approach would be that, if our sub-forums could also show their 'sub-logo', the boys from the keris Warung could select a traditional example of their taste and we, the European cousins, could choose an elegant Katzbalger, a Vicking spatha, or the like.
But mind you, not (necessarily) the nicest valuable specimen, but the more 'logo-ish' one.
Yours faithfuly

Matchlock · 29th January 2011, 08:24 PM

Hi 'Nando,

I thoroughly understand your well based arguments - no problem.

What really worries me is the fact that no one responds with something we could benefit from substantially ...

Best,
Michl

Jeff Pringle · 31st January 2011, 12:33 AM

I think this sword did not sell for a good reason, and that it would not make an ideal logo because it is not a Viking sword. The patterns on the blade are all wrong, and the decoration of the pommel is suspect at best - a very nice fake, though.

Rick · 31st January 2011, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Pringle

I think this sword did not sell for a good reason, and that it would not make an ideal logo because it is not a Viking sword. The patterns on the blade are all wrong, and the decoration of the pommel is suspect at best - a very nice fake, though.

Thanks Jeff .

I like our logo just as it is .

Matchlock · 31st January 2011, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Pringle

I think this sword did not sell for a good reason, and that it would not make an ideal logo because it is not a Viking sword. The patterns on the blade are all wrong, and the decoration of the pommel is suspect at best - a very nice fake, though.

That would indeed account for some questions!

Best,
Michael

cornelistromp · 1st February 2011, 09:45 AM

similar pommel/cross patterns are published by Glosek, and this blade pattern I saw last year or 2009 on a viking blade at a London auction house.

No I don't think this is a fake.

Lee · 1st February 2011, 11:57 AM

Jeff is not alone. The medieval sword fakes that are coming out now are so proficiently made that I believe the entire market has been poisoned by suspicions. I have seen examples for which I am not personally confident of authenticity in the very best sales venues including major London sales within the last decade. (I am otherwise unaware of the 2009 sale mentioned by cornelistromp and I am not commenting on that sale or sword). Would be buyers are advised to always attend the preview for close-up examination personally or by qualified proxy...

Anyway, Matchlock, the takouba logo that distresses you is on holiday until after the Timonium seminar. (That takouba does have an early European-made trade blade with sun, moon and stars.) Unfortunately, the version of the forums software we are using does not support different logos for each forum. I have found code hacks on the Internet that would override this and give one forum a custom logo or that would rotate a series of logos. However, I hesitate to try it as I do not really know what I am doing in some of that code and also, more importantly, because upgrading this board to a newer vbulletin version is under consideration and an upgrade would wipe all previous customizations anyway.

cornelistromp · 1st February 2011, 07:32 PM

pommel:I found the same decoration/pattern published by Lech marek.
an 11thc piast T-type sword pommel. see picture

Blade:the blade pattern i thought i saw before was on a sword auctioned by Bonhams 29 april 2010 however it is a kind of... different.see picture

cross:the decoration/pattern on the guard must be something like the sword hilt from Busdorf Germany. see pic.

best,

1st February 2011, 11:57 AM	#7
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 932	Scary stuff Jeff is not alone. The medieval sword fakes that are coming out now are so proficiently made that I believe the entire market has been poisoned by suspicions. I have seen examples for which I am not personally confident of authenticity in the very best sales venues including major London sales within the last decade. (I am otherwise unaware of the 2009 sale mentioned by cornelistromp and I am not commenting on that sale or sword). Would be buyers are advised to always attend the preview for close-up examination personally or by qualified proxy... Anyway, Matchlock, the takouba logo that distresses you is on holiday until after the Timonium seminar. (That takouba does have an early European-made trade blade with sun, moon and stars.) Unfortunately, the version of the forums software we are using does not support different logos for each forum. I have found code hacks on the Internet that would override this and give one forum a custom logo or that would rotate a series of logos. However, I hesitate to try it as I do not really know what I am doing in some of that code and also, more importantly, because upgrading this board to a newer vbulletin version is under consideration and an upgrade would wipe all previous customizations anyway.

1st February 2011, 07:32 PM	#8
cornelistromp Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,060	pommel:I found the same decoration/pattern published by Lech marek. an 11thc piast T-type sword pommel. see picture Blade:the blade pattern i thought i saw before was on a sword auctioned by Bonhams 29 april 2010 however it is a kind of... different.see picture cross:the decoration/pattern on the guard must be something like the sword hilt from Busdorf Germany. see pic. best, Attached Images Last edited by cornelistromp; 2nd February 2011 at 07:25 AM.

27th January 2011, 07:41 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	What an aesthetic issue you are addressing, Michl I would say that this is a magnificent sword, with an intrinsic value, admittedly greater than tat of a takouba. But in photogenic terms i guess that we have already seen in tis forum, mainly posted by you but not only, specimens more appealing, as more fit to make the cliche of a (forum) logo. This without forgetting that the takouba depicted in the forum is rather photogenic, apart from its relative intrisic value, other than cultural. We must not forget that (first), our mother forum has been originaly developed for an Ethnographic horizon and (second but not less important), the forum owner loves takoubas ; not that he doesn't like Vicking swords, though A different approach would be that, if our sub-forums could also show their 'sub-logo', the boys from the keris Warung could select a traditional example of their taste and we, the European cousins, could choose an elegant Katzbalger, a Vicking spatha, or the like. But mind you, not (necessarily) the nicest valuable specimen, but the more 'logo-ish' one. Yours faithfuly

29th January 2011, 08:24 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Hi 'Nando, I thoroughly understand your well based arguments - no problem. What really worries me is the fact that no one responds with something we could benefit from substantially ... Best, Michl

31st January 2011, 12:33 AM	#3
Jeff Pringle Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 189	I think this sword did not sell for a good reason, and that it would not make an ideal logo because it is not a Viking sword. The patterns on the blade are all wrong, and the decoration of the pommel is suspect at best - a very nice fake, though.

1st February 2011, 09:45 AM	#6
cornelistromp Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,060	similar pommel/cross patterns are published by Glosek, and this blade pattern I saw last year or 2009 on a viking blade at a London auction house. No I don't think this is a fake.