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21st August 2023, 07:58 PM | #1 |
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Has the face mark been posted here before? It feels eerily familiar but I can't find it in the places I would usually look for such a thing.
Which reminds me again that I wish I had the energy and resources to build an image-searchable sword markings database. Would be an interesting application to build. |
22nd August 2023, 05:53 PM | #2 | |
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Quote:
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22nd August 2023, 05:59 PM | #3 |
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It is in that context quite likely, but also reminds me of the 'green man' themes and some of the cherub type figures often seen in 17th century hilts. The green man is of course more botanical, but the neoclassic convention is similar.
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23rd August 2023, 02:44 AM | #4 |
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Could be I suppose... It somehow reminds me of certain Greek or Roman depictions... Maybe some vague resemblance to gorgon faces/Medusa? Or maybe I'm seeing things...
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23rd August 2023, 04:35 PM | #5 | |
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Good observation! as noted earlier, these kinds of faces, figures turn up a lot on the neoclassic themes in various hilt designs, however not as much for 'markings' in use by makers in this frontal facial view. Most such markings seem to favor side view or profiles. |
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23rd August 2023, 09:40 PM | #6 |
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My 17th c. hanger with 'Medusa' head just for reference to classic designs on swords...or is it a harpy?
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23rd August 2023, 10:54 PM | #7 |
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24th August 2023, 12:46 AM | #8 |
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That is an amazing hanger capn! and very much in line with the cherub, green man etc. themes popular in early 17th c. on hilts in England and France. Again, these are hilt theme figures, so unusual to see them in a blade as a punzone.
Its really difficult to place effective explanations for these kinds of figures in sword decoration but aside from all the rather elaborate and diverse notes on cherubim, the one I find most intriguing is the Biblical association with these figures holding the flaming sword. The cases of the 'flaming sword' blade (flammard) is of course seen in various cases which may have had this kind of symbolic association as well. Naturally none of these suppositions is explained in references so we can only speculate on these highly symbolic themes. Last edited by Jim McDougall; 24th August 2023 at 12:59 AM. |
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