WAR HAMMERS for Footmen and Horsemen, 14th to 16th Centuries

Matchlock · 29th November 2014, 08:32 PM

War hammers for infantry and cavalry (German: Streithämmer für Fußsoldaten und Reiterei) represent another field of historic weaponry rarely considered ever; thus, the author is starting out with a fine and topic 15th c. sample sold at auction just a few days ago at Bonhams, London: 26 November 2014, lot 175.

It had an important provenance: the armory of the Princes of Hohenzollern, Schloss Sigmaringen.
The Michael Trömner Collection holds a very rare combined spear and musket rest, ca. 1580-1600, from the same Castle, the haft painted with two inventory numbers in red ink in the characteristic Hohenzollern manner: a two-digit group of weapons no. and a four-digit item identification no.

Contrary to the catalog description, this hammer of course was a FOOTman's hammer, due to the length of its haft which is probably the original. The long iron straps repaired in places should be noted as well.
By around 1500, the straps of hafted arms became notably shorter; this observation leads the author, though definitely not being an expert on this field, to assigning a wide date line of 2nd half 15th c. to around ca. 1530 to the item in discussion.
It is both the general formal and stylistic criteria that account decisively for the basic dating of any item.

Best,
Michael

29th November 2014, 08:32 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	WAR HAMMERS for Footmen and Horsemen, 14th to 16th Centuries War hammers for infantry and cavalry (German: Streithämmer für Fußsoldaten und Reiterei) represent another field of historic weaponry rarely considered ever; thus, the author is starting out with a fine and topic 15th c. sample sold at auction just a few days ago at Bonhams, London: 26 November 2014, lot 175. It had an important provenance: the armory of the Princes of Hohenzollern, Schloss Sigmaringen. The Michael Trömner Collection holds a very rare combined spear and musket rest, ca. 1580-1600, from the same Castle, the haft painted with two inventory numbers in red ink in the characteristic Hohenzollern manner: a two-digit group of weapons no. and a four-digit item identification no. Contrary to the catalog description, this hammer of course was a FOOTman's hammer, due to the length of its haft which is probably the original. The long iron straps repaired in places should be noted as well. By around 1500, the straps of hafted arms became notably shorter; this observation leads the author, though definitely not being an expert on this field, to assigning a wide date line of 2nd half 15th c. to around ca. 1530 to the item in discussion. It is both the general formal and stylistic criteria that account decisively for the basic dating of any item. Best, Michael Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 30th November 2014 at 11:04 AM.