When you buy a "Chinese mace" and end up with a "Duc René one..."

JBG163 · 8th October 2022, 08:51 PM

Dear all !
Funny story, that will end well however it turns out.
I bought some weeks ago a "Chinese wooden mace"... I was thinking it to be for training recruits, build strenght etc...
After talking with several people and researching it ... It turns out that wooden mace is European, depicted in two books : "Livre des tournois du Duc René I, ~circa 1460" and "Waffen Kunde, Boeheim 1890".
This is a joust/tournament mace, use in the 15th but also in the 19th, during several reenactment of this period (mostly belgium, germany and UK).
For now on, i didn't found any exemple to compare with. I asked several specialists if they were aware of exemple surviving.... None at this time.
It can be from 15th or 19th (probably and statistically the later), but it's still an awesome and funny find.
I will have it C tested if possible.

CSinTX · 8th October 2022, 11:05 PM

Congratulations on a very interesting find! And thanks for sharing it with us!

The pommel definitely looks to have some age to it. Can you give us some more pictures of the guard plate? Assume no markings?

JBG163 · 10th October 2022, 08:26 PM

No marking.
Guard have an unusual construction but can't give more clue for now. I hope to be able to meet the french army museum staff, so they can study it ...

awdaniec666 · 11th October 2022, 04:42 PM

Funny story and congratulations on this find. On the matter of C-tesing: I once asked a world-renowned dendro-archeologist if he could help me with a wooden hilt on one of my swords. His answer was sure, but he needs at least 10 gramms of wood. Think twice before giving that wood away!

JBG163 · 11th October 2022, 04:48 PM

Depending on the method, it varies on the number of gr.
30mg are enough for accelerated method.
But need to drill a little hole to get the uncontaminated wood.

kronckew · 15th October 2022, 08:57 AM

Reminds me of my NE African club, 3ft. Grip is partially covered in leather with the hair on.

cornelistromp · 15th October 2022, 02:15 PM

the construction of the rondel, with the metal band on the rim around it, resembles somewhat a 14/15th c basilard in my collection.

8th October 2022, 08:51 PM	#1
JBG163 Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: France Posts: 207	When you buy a "Chinese mace" and end up with a "Duc René one..." Dear all ! Funny story, that will end well however it turns out. I bought some weeks ago a "Chinese wooden mace"... I was thinking it to be for training recruits, build strenght etc... After talking with several people and researching it ... It turns out that wooden mace is European, depicted in two books : "Livre des tournois du Duc René I, ~circa 1460" and "Waffen Kunde, Boeheim 1890". This is a joust/tournament mace, use in the 15th but also in the 19th, during several reenactment of this period (mostly belgium, germany and UK). For now on, i didn't found any exemple to compare with. I asked several specialists if they were aware of exemple surviving.... None at this time. It can be from 15th or 19th (probably and statistically the later), but it's still an awesome and funny find. I will have it C tested if possible. Attached Images Last edited by JBG163; 8th October 2022 at 09:31 PM.

15th October 2022, 08:57 AM	#6
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,178	Reminds me of my NE African club, 3ft. Grip is partially covered in leather with the hair on. Attached Images

15th October 2022, 02:15 PM	#7
cornelistromp Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,058	the construction of the rondel, with the metal band on the rim around it, resembles somewhat a 14/15th c basilard in my collection. Attached Images

8th October 2022, 11:05 PM	#2
CSinTX Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 233	Congratulations on a very interesting find! And thanks for sharing it with us! The pommel definitely looks to have some age to it. Can you give us some more pictures of the guard plate? Assume no markings?

10th October 2022, 08:26 PM	#3
JBG163 Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: France Posts: 207	No marking. Guard have an unusual construction but can't give more clue for now. I hope to be able to meet the french army museum staff, so they can study it ...

11th October 2022, 04:42 PM	#4
awdaniec666 Member Join Date: May 2021 Location: Central Europe Posts: 162	Funny story and congratulations on this find. On the matter of C-tesing: I once asked a world-renowned dendro-archeologist if he could help me with a wooden hilt on one of my swords. His answer was sure, but he needs at least 10 gramms of wood. Think twice before giving that wood away!

11th October 2022, 04:48 PM	#5
JBG163 Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: France Posts: 207	Depending on the method, it varies on the number of gr. 30mg are enough for accelerated method. But need to drill a little hole to get the uncontaminated wood.