Highly decorated medieval (?) french two hand mace

[Fernando K]

Hi there:

In the picture No. 2, I distinguish the line separating the two molds, which indicates that the handle was cast; It would then be a reproduction

It would take some closer photo

Affectionately. Fernando K

(sorry for the translation)

[Matchlock]

Hi Roland,


Welcome on the forum, and my congratulations on introducing us to this great object!

Though no longer medieval, this definitely is
a finely carved wrought iron Renaissance period horseman's mace, Italy, ca. 1520-30.

Much more soon.


I am longing to see more of your collection!!!

Glad to have you here with us,
and best wishes,
Michael

Michael Trömner
Rebenstr. 9
D-93326 Abensberg
Germany

[Shakethetrees]

Welcome to the forum! I am a bit of a newbie myself, after quietly lurking and having a peek for a while I realized this group has a lot of depth and breadth in the world of European and Ethnographic weaponry. I finally realized that I could contribute a little of my experience to the big picture.

I am a master silversmith who has collected and restored this stuff for longer than I can remember!

Now, as I look at your mace, I also see the parting line (or mold mark, as Fernando put it), in photo number two. If you follow along the line you will see a knop midway up the shaft that bears the resemblance to twisted wire. It originally was done by careful chisel work. But right in line with the parting line, the individual channels on the knop become undefined, like something filled them up. When the piece was cast, a fine flashing, or a fin of metal was left to finish off, a common occurrence in casting. The contour was defined by finishing with a file or other abrasive tools, and left as it is. Were it of the original period, the spiral detail would have been chiseled on to the surface.

Don't misunderstand me. It's a great quality casting, probably done during the mid nineteenth century, when a mania for filling up manor houses was in fashion. Today it would be too expensive to make, especially for the sum that you mention.

It's a great looking piece that was made to give a certain "look" to its location, not unlike what's going on in the furniture and decorative arts field today. There are not enough genuine, of the period antique (armor, tables, brasses, etc.) pieces to fill the demand.

[ulfberth]

Hi Roland,

after a closer look at the type of iron of your mace i must conclude it is made of cast iron just like Fernando said.

Kind regards

Dirk

[cornelistromp]

It is a 20th century copy of a 16th century mace, in Ewart Oakshott and Clive Thomas typology of maces; type M2/b2 popular in western Europe in the early 16thC.


My first impression is that the shaft has been cast, original shaft of this type are hollow/tubular and formed by rolling or hammering a flat section of metal around a cylindrical former.The seam at the shaft of your mace itself is where it should be, a seam along the length direction!
Sometimes the central moulding divides the shaft into segments, wherein the cross-section of the shaft sometimes changes.
The flanges of the macehead of this type are fitted in slots cutted in the shaft, from the top down through the metal, and fixed with copper solder.
At the grip a lower guard/lower finial or pommel as you like is at original pieces fitted in the hollow shaft, it is not part of the grip. same for the top finial, at your pictures it looks like it is part of the shaft, one piece.
The head has usually 7 or 8 flanges, earlier types 6.
sometimes a hole is pierced through the shaft above the grip/moulding to fit a wrist band.
The weight of your mace is way too heavy, which should have a maximum of around 1.2 kg,
but most are lighter than 1 kg.

so my conclusion is a very nice early 20thC reproduction mace of type M2.

For an extremely nice article about earlier maces, see London park lane arms fair 2014- Clive Thomas/ the gothic mace.

hope it helps

Best,
jasper