Italian Storta

[Reventlov]

Originally Posted by Victrix

There’s also what appears to be a shooting star or perhaps it’s a star with a new moon. This looks oriental to my eyes and Venetians did a lot of trade with the Ottomans and so probably got some cultural influences from there in the process.

The shooting star is, I think, an elaborated variant of the engraved ornament appearing on the ricasso of many type XIX blades. Many of these are Italian (or Italianate), and the ornament first appears in the 14th century. If it was in any way inspired from a non-European style, the transmission occurred very early.

Usually the final detail is simply a point, or small circle, not a star. I can at least share a 16th-century illustration from Spain of buenas espadas antiguas, showing the "shooting star" style.

Thanks for sharing your handsome storta!

Best,

Mark