A Very Fine 15th C. Late Gothic Mace in the Museum of Lucerne, Switzerland

Jim McDougall · 21st October 2010, 06:03 PM

An absolutely fantastic piece, and it is truly fascinating to see the kind of design and embellishment was applied to an instrument which was so simply brutal as a blunt force club. Obviously a callous sounding comment, but it does seem that maces were not regarded in the same way as edged weapons or guns, so it does seem interesting that even a 'lowly' instrument in concept eventually gained such stature in the armouries of chivalry.

I have seen these spiked, cylindrical type maces shown as early as in statutes of weapons c.1165, and Im sure much earlier. Obviously we can trace back to the clubs with spikes dragged along the ground by Org, the caveman

but the striking instrument as such was certainly important in attacking armoured opponents times more in medieval period.

All the best,
Jim

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21st October 2010, 06:03 PM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	An absolutely fantastic piece, and it is truly fascinating to see the kind of design and embellishment was applied to an instrument which was so simply brutal as a blunt force club. Obviously a callous sounding comment, but it does seem that maces were not regarded in the same way as edged weapons or guns, so it does seem interesting that even a 'lowly' instrument in concept eventually gained such stature in the armouries of chivalry. I have seen these spiked, cylindrical type maces shown as early as in statutes of weapons c.1165, and Im sure much earlier. Obviously we can trace back to the clubs with spikes dragged along the ground by Org, the caveman but the striking instrument as such was certainly important in attacking armoured opponents times more in medieval period. All the best, Jim