A beautiful Nuremberg haquebut with profusely painted stock, ca. 1550

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Matchlock

Jim, in trying to understand the medieval taste for coloring, you might find the following post on painted period pieces of arts and crafts helpful:

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=7076

Just scroll down to where I attached the 15th century closets.

Of course you are right to mention a very similar style of decoration on 18th century blades but the painting on this stock is certainly of mid-16th century date. I realize that dating criteria are hard to define. Let me give you an example: When an illiterate person is confronted with a book for the first time, all he can say is "What are these strange marks? How can anobody see a meaning or message in them?" Of course, it takes along and intense process of studying to be able and actually put single letters together to words and sentences - and finally grasp their meaning.

Highly specialized detailed knowledge is very hard to share in being esoteric. All I can do is hope that this does not sound arrogant. I wish I knew how to do that any better.

Nevertheless, try and enjoy.

Matchlock/Michael

Not at all Michael, thank you for being so patient in your explanation which really adds perspective. This esoterica really does elude simple explanation, which definitely adds to its mystique. While these cabalistic symbols only became popular on swords blades in the 18th century, here it becomes clear that they were distinctly present in material culture much earlier.

Much of the same esoterica is well represented in guild and trademarks of many crafts, and in our case we are interested in those of firearms and sword makers. On our ethnographic forum some time ago we had a thread (now in the classic thread group) on 'early makers trademarks'. I am hoping we can continue that same theme as it really is an important aspect of these weapons history.

All the best,
Jim