Earliest Use of Paired Crescent Moons on Solingen Blades

[Jim McDougall]

In a concurrent thread on basket hilt swords, the subject of markings of paired crescent moons placed at the terminus of shorter right and left fullers in a central three fuller configuration came up on an Anglo-English basket hilt c.1740s.

The character of these paired 'man in the moon' faced markings are not commonly known on European blades, however they are extremely common in North African blades used in takouba and kaskara. According to Lloyd Cabot Briggs in his article on these blades (JAAS, 1965) his exhaustive research on European, typically Solingen, blades imported into these North African spheres, these 'paired moons' were inherently native applied. While considerable numbers of these blades were indeed European, it appears that native armourers used them on the blades they made as well as possibly applying them to imported or acquired foreign blades .

It has been well known, as described by Oakeshott ('Records of the Medieval Sword') and other instances, that broadsword blades, often of Solingen or Sudanese make, have been mounted in some cases in authentic medieval European hilts and in other cases in other hilts of varying form and age.

The objective of this thread is not to discredit examples of swords with these types of markings but to establish and authenticate the earliest use of the paired moons in Europe on blades so as to determine the origins of their use in North Africa.

In the images I borrowed from the other thread, on the left is a basket hilt with triple fullers and paired moons c.1600 posted by Cathey. In my opinion this is one of the strongest cases for European use of these moons. It will be noted that at the blade root flanking the central triple fullers are two flutes. The moons are more in the character of European astral images used in motif, and blade is entirely of early Solingen types destined for Scotland.

On the right is a basket hilt c.1745, also shown by Cathey, an outstanding Anglo-Irish hilt. The blade however has paired moons more of the character seen on North African kaskara blade examples. While there is of course the possibility this is a German blade, the markings are atypical for Solingen forms known, and both degenerated, almost stylized geometric in form.

The blade example below posted by Iain illustrates the nature of the variations of these moons and fullers on kaskara blades. Many of these are produced in North African locations and blades with the moons are termed 'masri' (Rodd, 1928) with the moons termed 'dukari' and placed for magical and talismanic purpose.


I am hoping that possibly we might look into the use of crescent moons on European blades, and especially instances of their occurrence in pairs facing away from each other as seen here.
We know that the man in the moon type devices occur, usually with other cosmological themes , but looking for the paired examples.

[ulfberth]

Hi Jim,

in auction 69 in Hermann Historica there was a late 16th century German riding sword with six moon stamps on the ricasso, though not facing away from each other, this provides a good idea of the shape and dimensions of old European type of stamps.

Kind regards

Ulfberth

[ulfberth]

and this one with the moons faced away from each other, discribed as:
A German gold-plated rapier circa 1580
Double-edged thrusting blade of flattened hexagonal section. Both sides signed "CLEMENS STAM" within the double fullers and struck with six marks on the ricasso.

[kronckew]

single moon engraving:

Austro-Hungarian Hussar Sabre of General Andreas Hadik c.1760

[Iain]

Good idea to split this out into another topic Jim. As others have noted these moon stamps are derived from engraving styles which have existed for centuries. Probably the closest to a transitional piece I ever saw was this nice single fuller astral/talisman blade with paired engraved crescents.

I'm also including a Katzbalger with a stamped variation of the crescent. But it's a singular.

Regarding the application of the marks themselves, my understanding is that these would be stamped hot. Meaning that in a non-European context this would be not easy to achieve without destroying the temper of the blade. Briggs is a great source, but he could well have simply got it wrong.

To be clear, the example of mine you posted is 100% produced in Europe, it is an older example and from the 18th century I am 99% sure.

[Jim McDougall]

Ulfberth, Kronkew and Iain, thank you so very much guys!!!!

Ufberth, the multiple moons are exactly the concept I have been trying to learn more on. As often noted, the crescents are typically singular, but seen in multiples like this begs many questions.

I have seen cases where kings head, for example as used by Wundes, appear in as many as four or five strikes. It recalls the groupings of stamps applied with silver hallmarking and seems to allude to that sort of 'quality' connotation.
In cases where such a mark, with more pragmatic use such as guild or compliance stamps has become more a motif, such as linear use of the sickle or eyelash marks, it may be perceived as multiplication of power or quality (i.e. more means better).

Speaking of sickle marks, these are another case where what was apparantly a guild type mark associated with Genoa, yet other North Italian centers used similar marks in other configurations and groupings with other marks. Like the moons, running wolf and many other marks were purloined by other centers in many other countries and cultures.

Kronckew, excellent example of the cosmological motif which became popular on blades in the 17th through 18th centuries in Europe. These images became the prototypes for various native interpretations because of the prolific import of trade blades bearing these.

Iain, great points as always, and good info on the stamping of the blades.
I have always been admittedly puzzled on this as there are so many cases of swords and weapons being cold stamped with arsenal marks etc. I was never clear at how this could be accomplished with hard steel.
Briggs does note an analogy on the dukari marks being stamped on an already thuluth covered blade, naturally suggesting these were placed by native artisans. In other references it is noted that the native smiths were using stamps which over time became damaged and suggesting this as cause of degenerating images on later examples

As we have discussed, it certainly seems likely that Solingen, in their phenomenal marketing prowess, might have tailored their blades, including markings, to their clientele. We already know this factually with the 'Spanish motto' blades of the 18th c.; the 'Sahagum' of 17th and 18th to low countries of the Continent; and of course..the 'Andrea Ferara blades to Scotland of the 17th and 18th.
With the decline of markets and demand at the end of the Franco-Prussian war with an overbuilt industry in Solingen for blades, they turned to other potential markets in colonial spheres. It seems we have found that blades were indeed produced for North Africa in this 19th century period and later but we have not yet found definitive data proving so, nor if these were stamped with dukari as discussed.

If these blades were indeed stamped with these marks in Solingen, whether 19th century, or as suggested in the 18th it would be key information. Naturally, if the 18th century date for these was the case, then it would explain just how this unique configuration of even distorted moons became situated in Saharan context. It would also explain these several anomalies in Scottish basket hilts with these dramatically uncharacteristic blades and marks as we are discussing. It would also suggest that the volume of these strategically marked blades for North African consumption were thus shipped away from Europe, explaining the notable absence of examples in European context.

A lot to be considered!!! but well on the track !

[Norman McCormick]

Hi,
Paired crescent moons and a big'un on a small sword hilted spadroon of mine with Solingen blade 2nd half 18thC.
Regards,
Norman.

[Norman McCormick]

Hi,
More scattered crescents on other parts of blade.
Regards,
Norman.

[ulfberth]

Hi Norman,

that is a very nice small sword, beautiful guard and nice blade to.
I think that the engraved crescent moons are mostly used as a symbolic or decoration on the blade, but just as interesting of course, whereas the stamps were uses as marks for identification and or quality.

Kind regards

Ulfberth

[Norman McCormick]

Hi Ulfberth,
I thought possibly this image with the paired crescents may be applicable.
My Regards,
Norman.

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you so much Norman and Ulfberth for these great examples! as well as the well placed observations.
As noted in the title of this thread, this query is prompted by questions pertaining to the occurrence of faced crescent moons on European blades, particularly those which appear on the blade center near the terminus of fullers.

There is of course a great deal of speculative analysis on what the symbolic or in some cases, talismanic meaning of these crescent moons might have been. This undoubtedly varied in the perceptions of the many circumstances in which they were applied. While this presents fascinating opportunities for possibilities, it is the curious case of multiples in their application, as well as the configuration and position on the blade which is most intriguing.

We know that various stamped marks were placed on European blades and often in multiples as have been seen on examples seen in this thread. It seems that typically makers stamps are most often at the forte on earlier European blades. In the case of most astral themes containing crescent moons as well as stars, sun etc. these are inscribed in central areas of the blade field.

The crescent moons, in pairs, are well known in Saharan regions primarily in North Africa and found on various broadsword blades. These occur invariably at blade center near fullers. We know that large volumes of these blades came from Europe as trade products. We also know that these 'trade' blades apparently inspired native armourers to apply these marks to blades they made as well as others.

It has long been suggested that Solingen indeed produced blades for export to North Africa much as for their many client entrepots in many countries .
It seems these blades may well have been stamped with the moons in Europe in accord with much earlier blade forms also made there.

What we need to discover, and hopefully those of you who have access to resources on Solingen history might have, is some kind of specific reference to documented record of such exports to African markets. Perhaps in addition to finding just how early these moons were used on European blades, we might determine when blades to North Africa began specific export, and if these used the moons.

[ulfberth]

Originally Posted by Norman McCormick

Hi Ulfberth,
I thought possibly this image with the paired crescents may be applicable.
My Regards,
Norman.

Hello Norman,
good point and indeed it is, my attention was drawn towards the big moon, however the smaller crescents seem to be an engraved version and in the same place were most stamps are on the broad sword blades.
On rapier blades the moons mostly seem to appear on the forte.

kind regards
Ulfberth

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by ulfberth

Hello Norman,
good point and indeed it is, my attention was drawn towards the big moon, however the smaller crescents seem to be an engraved version and in the same place were most stamps are on the broad sword blades.
On rapier blades the moons mostly seem to appear on the forte.

kind regards
Ulfberth

Well said! and indeed Norman this significant motif is of course pertinent as while of course later period, it recognizes the use of paired moons in earlier times as they became associated with quality and other imbued occult symbolism. In these later times, groupings of various cosmological devices alluded to occult and talismanic allegories, and apparently often included the by then, venerable, paired moons as recognized embellishment.