Small Sword Dutch or French

Jim McDougall · 16th September 2024, 07:46 PM

A very breathtaking small sword, and not at all surprising that Cathey's discerning eye puts it with her amazing holdings.

Actually the Latin motto, 'Pro Deo et Religione Vera' has to do with the teachings and following of St.Augustine of Hippo 354-430AD (this was an area in Algeria). Most of this I simply found online, but apparently his following was not confined to the Catholic Faith, but also to Eastern Orthodox (Greek Orthodox) and Lutheran Faiths.

Perhaps this particular phrase or motto might have applied to one of the fraternal or military orders? The character of this religious phrase IMO does not confine the blade or sword to a particular nationality or country as these followings transcended geographic boundaries.

The note on the fact that this hilt, despite being silver, is not hallmarked. As Cathey notes, Aylward (1945) does mention this absence of hallmarks (p.69); "...their absence almost certainly means the hilt was made to the order of its original owner".
He notes further that though technically outside the law, it seemed unnecessary to submit the work to a touch-warden if the bullion was supplied by the client himself.

What I think is important about this absence of touch mark, perhaps the client who had this hilt made used an important heirloom or item of key importance in a reliquary sense to furnish bullion? Obviously this sword has religious and highly symbolic value, so this does not seem far fetched.

The style of the hilt corresponds to those in vogue in England 1720s-1740s which of course is hardly defined by that period alone.
There were apparently numbers of French Huguenots who had fled to England after the revoking of the Edict of Nantes (1685) and it is tempting to think this might account for a sword of this character without a touchmark as well.

With the reeded ivory grip, while this type grip became popular in France and America in the 18th century, it was well known on rapiers of Spain and the Netherlands in the mid 17th c. The sources of ivory included a number of places along with the Russian mammoth variety, with the narwhals often providing material to India and Central Asia and elephants from Africa.
It has always amazed me that these can be identified from photos as I dont know these specifics.
Whatever the case, IMO the material used regardless of source does not necessarily confine the provenance of the weapon embellished with it to that area.

16th September 2024, 07:46 PM	#5
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,902	A very breathtaking small sword, and not at all surprising that Cathey's discerning eye puts it with her amazing holdings. Actually the Latin motto, 'Pro Deo et Religione Vera' has to do with the teachings and following of St.Augustine of Hippo 354-430AD (this was an area in Algeria). Most of this I simply found online, but apparently his following was not confined to the Catholic Faith, but also to Eastern Orthodox (Greek Orthodox) and Lutheran Faiths. Perhaps this particular phrase or motto might have applied to one of the fraternal or military orders? The character of this religious phrase IMO does not confine the blade or sword to a particular nationality or country as these followings transcended geographic boundaries. The note on the fact that this hilt, despite being silver, is not hallmarked. As Cathey notes, Aylward (1945) does mention this absence of hallmarks (p.69); "...their absence almost certainly means the hilt was made to the order of its original owner". He notes further that though technically outside the law, it seemed unnecessary to submit the work to a touch-warden if the bullion was supplied by the client himself. What I think is important about this absence of touch mark, perhaps the client who had this hilt made used an important heirloom or item of key importance in a reliquary sense to furnish bullion? Obviously this sword has religious and highly symbolic value, so this does not seem far fetched. The style of the hilt corresponds to those in vogue in England 1720s-1740s which of course is hardly defined by that period alone. There were apparently numbers of French Huguenots who had fled to England after the revoking of the Edict of Nantes (1685) and it is tempting to think this might account for a sword of this character without a touchmark as well. With the reeded ivory grip, while this type grip became popular in France and America in the 18th century, it was well known on rapiers of Spain and the Netherlands in the mid 17th c. The sources of ivory included a number of places along with the Russian mammoth variety, with the narwhals often providing material to India and Central Asia and elephants from Africa. It has always amazed me that these can be identified from photos as I dont know these specifics. Whatever the case, IMO the material used regardless of source does not necessarily confine the provenance of the weapon embellished with it to that area. Last edited by Jim McDougall; 17th September 2024 at 04:35 AM.