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

Matchlock · 18th October 2010, 07:19 PM

Exactly, 'Nando!

We should remember though that the Gothic and Renaissance, as I stated several times, were very colorful periods of art, and all works of art and archicture were richly adorned. We know of existing profusely painted helmets and other pieces of armor. That's why I hate the bright polished surfaces we mostly see nowadays - those items originally mostly never looked quite like their present appearance suggests ...

Best,
Michl

Matchlock · 21st October 2010, 04:57 PM

Images from their website.

This specimen seems to be older, probably still High Gothic, 14th c.

Matchlock · 21st October 2010, 04:59 PM

The rest.

The hole in the haft was for attaching a wrist leather strap.

m

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

Matchlock · 21st October 2010, 06:29 PM

Absolutely, Jim,

Clubs and maces seem to have existed since the first pre-hominide australopithecus grabbed a bone or a piece of wood just to raise it against an opponent or animal.

They, though, have not always been regarded as mere blunt weapons but even as early as the oldest historic times, especially in Ancient Greece and the Sumerian period, they had become symbols of dignity, later stylized as scepters.

The origin of a scepter of course was a club or mace.

I remember seeing many medieval portraits and attach two from the famos Codex Manesse, ca. 1300, depicting scepters derived from maces.

Best,
Michael

Matchlock · 22nd October 2010, 12:47 PM

A portrait of the Emperor Maximilian I, by Bernhard Strigel, Memmingen/Bavaria, ca. 1515.

kronckew · 22nd October 2010, 01:04 PM

the mace is still a high symbol of authority, in the UK and many other countries (including the USA). parliament here cannot meet without the royal mace. the USA uses a mace in the house of representatives to indicate when it is in session, and to restore order when a member gets unruly, thus it is still used as an official 'weapon'.

21st October 2010, 04:57 PM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	A similar mace sold at auction at San Giorgio, Genova, March 2008 Images from their website. This specimen seems to be older, probably still High Gothic, 14th c. Attached Images

21st October 2010, 04:59 PM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	The rest. The hole in the haft was for attaching a wrist leather strap. m Attached Images

21st October 2010, 06:29 PM	#5
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Absolutely, Jim, Clubs and maces seem to have existed since the first pre-hominide australopithecus grabbed a bone or a piece of wood just to raise it against an opponent or animal. They, though, have not always been regarded as mere blunt weapons but even as early as the oldest historic times, especially in Ancient Greece and the Sumerian period, they had become symbols of dignity, later stylized as scepters. The origin of a scepter of course was a club or mace. I remember seeing many medieval portraits and attach two from the famos Codex Manesse, ca. 1300, depicting scepters derived from maces. Best, Michael Attached Images

22nd October 2010, 12:47 PM	#6
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Maces to Scepters! A portrait of the Emperor Maximilian I, by Bernhard Strigel, Memmingen/Bavaria, ca. 1515. Attached Images

18th October 2010, 07:19 PM	#1
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Exactly, 'Nando! We should remember though that the Gothic and Renaissance, as I stated several times, were very colorful periods of art, and all works of art and archicture were richly adorned. We know of existing profusely painted helmets and other pieces of armor. That's why I hate the bright polished surfaces we mostly see nowadays - those items originally mostly never looked quite like their present appearance suggests ... Best, Michl

21st October 2010, 06:03 PM	#4
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

22nd October 2010, 01:04 PM	#7
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	the mace is still a high symbol of authority, in the UK and many other countries (including the USA). parliament here cannot meet without the royal mace. the USA uses a mace in the house of representatives to indicate when it is in session, and to restore order when a member gets unruly, thus it is still used as an official 'weapon'.