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

kronckew · 30th November 2014, 09:42 AM

like matchlock in post 3, i am speechless with wonder.

Matchlock · 30th November 2014, 10:07 AM

Thank you so much, Kronckew,

Actually it was just a placeholder and I intended to fill in that gap today, and have just done so.
Hope you will like what you see.

Best,
Michael

Matchlock · 30th November 2014, 01:11 PM

Some horseman's hammers of common type, the rectangular wooden haft enclosed by four iron straps joning at the base, the head with long saddle hook, all of them South German, ca. 1520-35.
Horseman's hammers have much shorter hafts than than those for footman's, and the lower section of the haft is usually pierced for a leather strap that was slung around the rider's wrist.

From top:
- Historisches Museum der Stadt Regenburg, on loan from the Bayerisches Armeemuseum Ingolstadt (3 atts.)

- George F. Harding Colln., Chicago Art Institute, inv.no. 1982.2122: featuring an additional sturdy central spike, the straps pierced with Late Gothic tracery, an ornament denoting its quite early date of manufactue, probably ca. 1515-20 (2 atts.)

- Palazzo Ducale, Venice, one of the earliest and finest Gothic war hammers in existence; Northern Italy, ca. 1370-1400; wrought iron, finely sculpted and chiseled as a dragon and bearing two heraldic shields; the socket and haft of octagonal section according to the Gothic sense of style (3 atts.)
This item is very similar to the hammer head from the Higgins, cf. post #3 above, and re-attached below.

- South German, ca. 1525-35, the wooden haft completely encased with iron, and a central rectangular node (nodus); Hermann Historica, Munich, 5 Nov 2014, lot 3190.

Matchlock · 30th November 2014, 02:09 PM

Five more images of the hammer at HH, and of another, also German, but made of steel throughout and of later type, mid to 2nd half 16th c.

m

30th November 2014, 10:07 AM	#2
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Thank you so much, Kronckew, Actually it was just a placeholder and I intended to fill in that gap today, and have just done so. Hope you will like what you see. Best, Michael Last edited by Matchlock; 30th November 2014 at 11:32 AM.

30th November 2014, 02:09 PM	#4
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Five more images of the hammer at HH, and of another, also German, but made of steel throughout and of later type, mid to 2nd half 16th c. m Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 30th November 2014 at 02:31 PM.

30th November 2014, 09:42 AM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	like matchlock in post 3, i am speechless with wonder.

30th November 2014, 01:11 PM	#3
Matchlock (deceased) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany - the center of 15th and 16th century gunmaking Posts: 4,310	Some horseman's hammers of common type, the rectangular wooden haft enclosed by four iron straps joning at the base, the head with long saddle hook, all of them South German, ca. 1520-35. Horseman's hammers have much shorter hafts than than those for footman's, and the lower section of the haft is usually pierced for a leather strap that was slung around the rider's wrist. From top: - Historisches Museum der Stadt Regenburg, on loan from the Bayerisches Armeemuseum Ingolstadt (3 atts.) - George F. Harding Colln., Chicago Art Institute, inv.no. 1982.2122: featuring an additional sturdy central spike, the straps pierced with Late Gothic tracery, an ornament denoting its quite early date of manufactue, probably ca. 1515-20 (2 atts.) - Palazzo Ducale, Venice, one of the earliest and finest Gothic war hammers in existence; Northern Italy, ca. 1370-1400; wrought iron, finely sculpted and chiseled as a dragon and bearing two heraldic shields; the socket and haft of octagonal section according to the Gothic sense of style (3 atts.) This item is very similar to the hammer head from the Higgins, cf. post #3 above, and re-attached below. - South German, ca. 1525-35, the wooden haft completely encased with iron, and a central rectangular node (nodus); Hermann Historica, Munich, 5 Nov 2014, lot 3190. Attached Images Last edited by Matchlock; 30th November 2014 at 04:15 PM.