1630s English basket hilts

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by dralin23

hello jim,
Thank you for your very interesting explanation of the origins of this sword name. It was unknown to me and I hadn't researched it yet.
In any case, it is really instructive for me to explain that these masks or faces on the basket are supposed to be the head of the killed king.
In any case, there is always enough material left over to discuss and I'm also happy that you can learn completely new things about your swords here on the forum.

Absolutely my pleasure! and I learn from every example put up for discussion, the research, and sharing of information. I have always believed we all learn together here in these great threads. The notion of the 'death mask' is but one of the many fanciful notions created by early writers and extensions of popular lore surrounding historic lore and figures. These 'collectors terms' are many and always intriguing in how they came about.
Again, yours is a wonderful example.