Odd sword that sold at Dorotheum

Jim McDougall · 22nd September 2013, 11:58 PM

Actually after looking more into this interesting sword, primarily the mounts at this point as the early European nature of the blade seems well established at probably latter 15th into 16th c.
The nature of the 'cross and orb' superimposed seems quite unusual and in its quadranted circumstance tenuously reminds me of Islamic astrolabe or navigationally oriented themes rather than the Christian cross and orb. While I am not saying this is what it nececcarily represents, it seems worthy of note. It is of course in the European latten inlay style, but I have not located any examples of the cross 'over' the orb as yet in sources checked.

As Iain notes, the dragon head (makara head in Indo-Persian weapons parlance)was indeed an artistic element used in varying material culture items from the Seljug Turks of 12th-13th c. but recorded as early as 9th.
("The Silver Dragon and Golden Fish", D.Alexander, Gladius XXIII, 2003).

It seems of course that these stylized forms were used as quillon terminals not only in Ottoman but well known in the downward quillon hilts of Persian qaddara from about 17th c. well into 19th. These same style quillons often with similar quillon terminals are seen in Qajar 'revival' type sword (1796+) as well as many Deccani associated swords.
It is interesting that the Afghan 'paluoar' sabre also has these stylized dragon head quillon terminals, with these typically regarded as 18th century and possibly slightly earlier.

I would note that while that may support the Central Asian theory for these mounts in degree, in "Arts of the Muslim Knight" (Furisiyya, ed.Bashir Mohammed, 2008) on p.78 (#42) there is a Bosnian sword of 17th c. (probably latter) which is remarkably in the same style as this sword with the brass openwork cuff, drooping quillons and dragon style terminals.
The blade is also noted as European, with Solingen mark date 1524.

Regarding the pommel seen on our example, I believe the association drawn to schiavona resulted from the boss type feature and later high relief faces seen in some of the earlier forms. The overall effect of this clearly refurbished old blade in reminiscent Nasrid style is probably composed with blade and earlier pommel, and likely ceremonially intended in the latter 18th into mid 19th c. Given the composite nature of the sword and its inherent stylization it would be hard to say exactly where it is from in present mounts.
As noted earlier, the dragonheads on earlier Ottoman and Persian hilts seem to be more dynamic in a more splayed profile. The more stylized 'blockish' nature of these terminals to me seems to suggest later production.

22nd September 2013, 11:58 PM	#8
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	Actually after looking more into this interesting sword, primarily the mounts at this point as the early European nature of the blade seems well established at probably latter 15th into 16th c. The nature of the 'cross and orb' superimposed seems quite unusual and in its quadranted circumstance tenuously reminds me of Islamic astrolabe or navigationally oriented themes rather than the Christian cross and orb. While I am not saying this is what it nececcarily represents, it seems worthy of note. It is of course in the European latten inlay style, but I have not located any examples of the cross 'over' the orb as yet in sources checked. As Iain notes, the dragon head (makara head in Indo-Persian weapons parlance)was indeed an artistic element used in varying material culture items from the Seljug Turks of 12th-13th c. but recorded as early as 9th. ("The Silver Dragon and Golden Fish", D.Alexander, Gladius XXIII, 2003). It seems of course that these stylized forms were used as quillon terminals not only in Ottoman but well known in the downward quillon hilts of Persian qaddara from about 17th c. well into 19th. These same style quillons often with similar quillon terminals are seen in Qajar 'revival' type sword (1796+) as well as many Deccani associated swords. It is interesting that the Afghan 'paluoar' sabre also has these stylized dragon head quillon terminals, with these typically regarded as 18th century and possibly slightly earlier. I would note that while that may support the Central Asian theory for these mounts in degree, in "Arts of the Muslim Knight" (Furisiyya, ed.Bashir Mohammed, 2008) on p.78 (#42) there is a Bosnian sword of 17th c. (probably latter) which is remarkably in the same style as this sword with the brass openwork cuff, drooping quillons and dragon style terminals. The blade is also noted as European, with Solingen mark date 1524. Regarding the pommel seen on our example, I believe the association drawn to schiavona resulted from the boss type feature and later high relief faces seen in some of the earlier forms. The overall effect of this clearly refurbished old blade in reminiscent Nasrid style is probably composed with blade and earlier pommel, and likely ceremonially intended in the latter 18th into mid 19th c. Given the composite nature of the sword and its inherent stylization it would be hard to say exactly where it is from in present mounts. As noted earlier, the dragonheads on earlier Ottoman and Persian hilts seem to be more dynamic in a more splayed profile. The more stylized 'blockish' nature of these terminals to me seems to suggest later production.