Swords a la Portuguese ... Part two

[fernando]

Wouldn't this be an example made by African locals inspired in navigator swords, which prevailed through centuries to be used for ceremonies or prestige, the so called MBELE A LULENDO (sword of power) ?. In this specific specimen, the date 1697 could have also been borrowed from early original examples. This one could be as late as from the 19th. century. The variation in model details may as well be 'authors imagination'. Although these swords may be acquired in (Nothern) Angola, it is obvious to expect that their design found its way there descending from neighbour Southwest Congo, where its influence was provided by navigators is registered.
But of course, anyone with knowledge may certainly correct me ... partly or totally .


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[Gonzalo G]

Originally Posted by fernando

Wouldn't this be an example made by African locals inspired in navigator swords, which prevailed through centuries to be used for ceremonies or prestige, the so called MBELE A LULENDO (sword of power) ?. In this specific specimen, the date 1697 could have also been borrowed from early original examples. This one could be as late as from the 19th. century. The variation in model details may as well be 'authors imagination'. Although these swords may be acquired in (Nothern) Angola, it is obvious to expect that their design found its way there descending from neighbour Southwest Congo, where its influence provided by navigators is registered.

That fits perfectly well, Fernando!! The Bakongo- Bantu used these swords as you said. This ethnic group in fact extends from north Luanda in Angola to the Congo.
Regards

[fernando]

After all, a determined part of Northern Angola was indeed part of the Congo kingdom, having this later been split after controversial events.
It is known that, a number of these swords in their primitive form was found in a Kindoki (ritual) cemetery, in Lower Congo Mbanza Nsundi.
Swords were considered power symbols, both in representing status symbols and also metaphisical means, to be used during several rites, including executions; hence the name Mbele a Lulendo.
The 16th century European swords were gradually replaced by indigenous production. The Mbele a Lulendo in its more expressive form would be the one with one guard arm facing up and the other facing down, an attitude to represent an anthromorphic figure, so called niombo.
The arms (quillons) of the sword posted here were not made to such position, although it configures a serious approach to a Mbele a Lulendo. A doubt remains on whether the all four arms, inspired by Portuguese swords, have their ends incomplete because time wasted their discs and pitons, which some times occurred, or the native smith only cared to forge a 'suggestion' to those appendixes.
In a closer look, the date 1697 seems to be an actual one, this blade being genuine European ... German ? It might have been shortened, with its 58 cms. length. Its width is rather impressive: 35 mm. The short ricasso fullers also look good. There are two copper 'ferrule like' washers holding the tang to the guard, which could (could) be from the hilting period, which i make it around 1880, a period in which these native swords were latest put up.

Again i submit all the above to the approval of knowledged members.


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[Reventlov]

I found one that we haven't seen yet in a book about Nuno Goncalves' St. Vincent altarpiece. Not much information about it is provided: it's in the Museo Militar in Lisbon, described as 15th-16th century.

[fernando]

Thank you for your post, Reventlov.
As you can see, thess are the types of Portuguese swords that 'inspired' African natives to produce their own version, like the Mbelle a Lulendo.
In reality, the allusion you might have read about this sword example is that it is the type, or one of the types, depicted in the six panels of São Vicente, a large oil on wood painted by Nuno Gonçalves around 1470-1480.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...os40_kopie.jpg
(you may enlarge this image)

The sword is indeed in the Military Museum and the panels are in the Museum of Antique Art.

PS

Although a more precise style as depicted in the panels is more like this one, a typical Portuguese sword of the third quarter XV cebtury.

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[Reventlov]

Originally Posted by fernando

Although a more precise style as depicted in the panels is more like this one, a typical Portuguese sword of the third quarter XV cebtury.

Yes, I am familiar...

At risk of straying a little off topic, I found this book quite interesting and you might as well. It tries to build a case for a very early dating of the altarpiece, c. 1450. I'm not sure I was really convinced, but I also couldn't immediately dismiss their arguments out of hand. The discuss the swords in particular, trying to show that they could be as early as they suggest - they included the sword above as an example of the "end point" of this trend in hilt design.

Now that I've been searching a little further online, I notice that several of the statues they included as comparative examples are dated several decades later by the Museum of Antique Art, so that's not encouraging... They do offer the effigy of Fernão Gomes de Góis as an example showing the double patillas finger-rings, and this is dated 1439-40.

The panels were dendrochronologically analyzed and must have been painted after 1442, so the early date cannot be excluded on those grounds, but neither can a later date or course...

[fernando]

I will be honest with you, Reventlov; the variation range of the discussed dates, although interesting for academics, rests beyond my empirical reach, as only representing, in maximum, some thirty years in a work made over five centuries ago. I understand this could influence a bench mark towards the date of determined weapon (sword) styles, but i am also aware that a lot of ink has already bein consumed in discussing these enigmatic panels date, the intention that moved the author, the figures they represent, and even the painting method used, namely (in rough terms) tempera over oak wood, oil painted or plaster and glue ... each one with a 'plausible' explanation; X rays, chromatic layers, you name it. Even registered doubts on who was the author remained for a long time.
And of course the analysis of the panels wood used for the panels doesn't prevent that the authjor could have used old raw mateial.
At this stage its inventory card appoints to the wise date range 1450-1490.
http://www.matriznet.dgpc.pt/MatrizN...x?IdReg=252075.
On the other hand if you refer to 'the sword above' as the one you posted, i would be confused, as the swords those guys inte panels are holding are visibly like the sketch i posted in reply.
However, if the book you mention were available online, i would certainly read it.
Kind regards
fernando