Dutch hunting sword in Parang Nabur fashion.

Dmitry · 6th April 2011, 03:56 PM

Green Man was a near ubiquitous folkloric motif throughout the Western Europe, not just in Britain. For instance, Walloon-hilted swords of similar vintage as the sword above, perhaps 50 years earlier, sometimes feature the Green Man mask inset in the shell guards.
It did find a second life in the Victorian Britain during the Gothic Revival.

Jim McDougall · 6th April 2011, 04:40 PM

Dmitry, beautifully observed and eloquently described on the fascinating elements of this beautiful sword! Thank you for adding the detail on the 'green man' image as well, as that information really helps in better understanding this intriguing figure, which indeed was widely known through Europe.

I believe this hilt was likely fashioned in Holland using the parang nabur as a model. It seems well established that Europeans, obviously in Holland in particular with thier VOC ships returning with exotic weapons as well as the commerce, were fascinated by these . As recently discussed, in the 17th century Rembrandt used some of them in his works.

Merchants were notoriously flamboyant and status conscious and these hunting swords and hangers were key elements of fashion by the 18th century as well as smallswords. It seems there are examples of European made hangers that are made in the style of the kastane of then Ceylon, and English merchants are seen in several cases wearing 'nimcha' from trade with Morocco (these were not English made however).

I havent been able to find the heart and hammer mark among resources yet, anybody out there seen this?

Thank you for posting this Dmitry, and again for the outstanding description!!

All the best,
Jim

6th April 2011, 03:56 PM	#1
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	Green Man was a near ubiquitous folkloric motif throughout the Western Europe, not just in Britain. For instance, Walloon-hilted swords of similar vintage as the sword above, perhaps 50 years earlier, sometimes feature the Green Man mask inset in the shell guards. It did find a second life in the Victorian Britain during the Gothic Revival.

6th April 2011, 04:40 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	Dmitry, beautifully observed and eloquently described on the fascinating elements of this beautiful sword! Thank you for adding the detail on the 'green man' image as well, as that information really helps in better understanding this intriguing figure, which indeed was widely known through Europe. I believe this hilt was likely fashioned in Holland using the parang nabur as a model. It seems well established that Europeans, obviously in Holland in particular with thier VOC ships returning with exotic weapons as well as the commerce, were fascinated by these . As recently discussed, in the 17th century Rembrandt used some of them in his works. Merchants were notoriously flamboyant and status conscious and these hunting swords and hangers were key elements of fashion by the 18th century as well as smallswords. It seems there are examples of European made hangers that are made in the style of the kastane of then Ceylon, and English merchants are seen in several cases wearing 'nimcha' from trade with Morocco (these were not English made however). I havent been able to find the heart and hammer mark among resources yet, anybody out there seen this? Thank you for posting this Dmitry, and again for the outstanding description!! All the best, Jim