A couple mortars for comments

Matchlock · 5th June 2012, 03:15 PM

A few more close-ups of the serpent head of my igniting iron, mid-16th c.

The original igniting prick (Zündstachel) for entering the touch hole, which seems to have been an extension of the mouth (now flattened), is missing.

m

fernando · 5th June 2012, 05:35 PM

Thank you for your input, Michl.
This time i would go for the mortar version, but maybe a bit earlier, like late XVIII century. What do you think?
Here they are again, after a good wash, some scrubbing with a brass brush and an oil soaking session.

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Matchlock · 5th June 2012, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

Thank you for your input, Michl.
This time i would go for the mortar version, but maybe a bit earlier, like late XVIII century. What do you think?
Here they are again, after a good wash, some scrubbing with a brass brush and an oil soaking session.

I still can't tell for sure what exactly their use was. Remember that many 14th/15th c. 'handgonnes' were used as mortars for centuries after.

I liked them better in their original patina though.

m

Matchlock · 5th June 2012, 07:52 PM

From my collection.

The first photo presents a length of characteristically thick Austrian matchcord, 15th or early 16th century, diameter ca. 1.7 cm; the other pieces and bundles of match with an average diameter of ca. 1.2 to 1.5 mm.

Attached at the bottom, in a detail of the representation of the Battle of Pavia, 1525, we see a length of matchcord carried wound around the arquebusier's left arm; as the cord is noticeably way too thick to fit the delicate jaws of match of the serpentine it was only used to light a small piece of tinder that actually ignited the arquebus.

m

fernando · 5th June 2012, 09:31 PM

Fantastic, Michl !
Do they tend to desintegrate with time or they preserve themselves without much care ?
and ... do you usually see these materials out there ... like in auctions ?

Matchlock · 5th June 2012, 10:05 PM

Well 'Nando,

Matchcord is natural hemp so it tends to disintegrate and definitely does lose a bit of material each time it is handled. Interesting enough, most of the substance is still there after such a long period of time.

I acquired two complete bundles (!) of early 17tth c. matchcord, each ca. 5 m long and formerly in the Emden armory, some 25 years ago privately.

Another bundle and various lengths turned up in international sales once in a blue moon, e.g. Christie's, Sept 20, 2007 (image attached), and the rest I got by pivate contacts. These rarest things are immensely expensive.

There is matchcord from nine different provenances in my collection.

Best,
Michl

5th June 2012, 03:15 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	A few more close-ups of the serpent head of my igniting iron, mid-16th c. The original igniting prick (Zündstachel) for entering the touch hole, which seems to have been an extension of the mouth (now flattened), is missing. m Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 6th June 2012 at 02:58 PM.

5th June 2012, 05:35 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Thank you for your input, Michl. This time i would go for the mortar version, but maybe a bit earlier, like late XVIII century. What do you think? Here they are again, after a good wash, some scrubbing with a brass brush and an oil soaking session. . Attached Images

5th June 2012, 07:52 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Original 16th to 17th c. matchcord From my collection. The first photo presents a length of characteristically thick Austrian matchcord, 15th or early 16th century, diameter ca. 1.7 cm; the other pieces and bundles of match with an average diameter of ca. 1.2 to 1.5 mm. Attached at the bottom, in a detail of the representation of the Battle of Pavia, 1525, we see a length of matchcord carried wound around the arquebusier's left arm; as the cord is noticeably way too thick to fit the delicate jaws of match of the serpentine it was only used to light a small piece of tinder that actually ignited the arquebus. m Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 5th June 2012 at 08:24 PM.

5th June 2012, 10:05 PM	#6
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Well 'Nando, Matchcord is natural hemp so it tends to disintegrate and definitely does lose a bit of material each time it is handled. Interesting enough, most of the substance is still there after such a long period of time. I acquired two complete bundles (!) of early 17tth c. matchcord, each ca. 5 m long and formerly in the Emden armory, some 25 years ago privately. Another bundle and various lengths turned up in international sales once in a blue moon, e.g. Christie's, Sept 20, 2007 (image attached), and the rest I got by pivate contacts. These rarest things are immensely expensive. There is matchcord from nine different provenances in my collection. Best, Michl Attached Images

5th June 2012, 09:31 PM	#5
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Fantastic, Michl ! Do they tend to desintegrate with time or they preserve themselves without much care ? and ... do you usually see these materials out there ... like in auctions ?