Wheel-Lock Spanners ca. 1520-1620

[ward]

So determining the Italian 16th century is done by what file work,brass inlay,workmanship ? I am looking for specifics I would normally call your piece afghan but realize they copied from other cultures and so I am looking for the differences.

[Matchlock]

An exact determination is extremely hard to accomplish. All I can say is that in general, the closer the form, staging and decoration of the hammer to both the papal hammer and the quillon ends of Cornelis's sword the higher the probability that it may be Italian and early.
Remember that Italy lies close to oriental neighbors and their styles intertwined very easily and quickly.
The second from right tool on your image seems to come pretty close to my earliest piece.

Michael

[Matchlock]

The hilt ca. 1550, the dussack blade somewhat later.

Michael

[Matchlock]

Still shaped like the Late-Gothic and Early Renaissance powder horns of natural cattle horn, which came into use again in the 18th century, especially in the U.S. The movable spanner with two different pinion squares, for the different diameters of wheel axes and tightening screws of dog jaws holding the pyrites; also combined with a screwdriver. Two rings for a suspension cord.

Northern Italy, ca. 1560, made for an arquebusier. In my collection.

Of wrought iron throughout, engraved with floral motives and a unique pattern in imitation of stitches of a seam, as they were used on early 16th c. textile covered flasks; here, this originally functional element has become mere decoration. Preserved in fine original condition troughout, retaining almost all of its blued finish.

Fitted with a long belt hook, the powder nozzle to be closed by a wooden stop plug, and with a spring-loaded cut-off lever an the top mount; the top mount lid bearing the nozzle hinged for refills.

I have documented only about a handful of surviving flasks of this kind, some of them preserved in famous collections.

Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

The remaining photos.

[Matchlock]

The flask attached first is the one that is closest to mine; its whereabouts seem to be unknown. The scan is taken from one of the many coffee table books that sadly do not care to give references.

Attached next is the finest known sample from the series, etched all over, preserved in the Odescalchi Collection, Rome, but both the wheel spanner and screwdriver are missing.

The following is said to be in a French private collection, the turn-lever spring of different construction.

Next is a specimen in the Musée de l'Armée Brussels, showing the hinged top mount open, the screwdriver missing.

Follows a plain sample in the Wallace Collection, London, the cut-off and screwdriver both missing.

Finally attached are two plain samples from international auctions.

These are all I have ever come across in more than 30 years of studying.

Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

A better image of that Italian all-iron combined flask and spanner, ca. 1560-70, in the Wallace Colln. that is similar to my sample posted above, #19ff.

We can now see that the former screwdriver is missing from the tip of the two-way spanner, opposite to the nozzle.

Best,
Michael