Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

Cathey · 26th February 2022, 02:39 AM

Hi Guys

Just to confuse things a little more, this Hunting Sword is Spanish but heavily influenced by the Moors. It was the late Claude Blair that confirmed this connection and identified SAN RoqE on the blade as Saint São Roque the Patron Saint of Dogs.

This sword is difficult to date as it is the only example I have come across, however Claude believed it to be Circa 1810.
Nationality: Probably Cordoba, Argentina?
Overall Length: 62.4 cm (24.6 inches)
Blade length: 46.5 cm (18.3 inches)
Blade widest point: 4.5 cm (1.8 inches)
Marks, etc: Blade engraved decoration to 2/3rds and the name SAN RoqE. Decoration includes dear, standing man with hat, double headed eagle and ½ man with hat as well as decorative foliage.

Description
HUNTING SWORD Hispanic origin circa 1800 (Cordoba, Argentina?). Purchased by the previous owner from an antique shop in London in 1949. Ornate silver hilt includes a carved horn dog at the top of the grip connected to the lower end of grip by a silver chain. Silver work to leather scabbard, end missing. All silver fitting very tight and well made excellent quality. Double-headed eagle is included among the complicated decoration deeply chiselled into the blade. The name SAN RoqE [San Roque] is the Spanish form of that of the French saint known in English and French as “Saint Roch”. He was very popular, and many churches and religious institutions were dedicated to, or named after him.

General Remarks
General workmanship is extremely fine and typical of European hunting swords; however its provenance is somewhat mysterious in that the design and look is Spanish, but with a distinct Moorish flavour.

When considering the name SAN RoqE on the blade it is interesting to note that there is a small city called San Roque in Colombia, and there is silver in Colombia, men with hats, deer and eagles. Regarding the dog in the hilt, this may relate to the legend of Saint São Roque which says that when São Roque was contaminated with the plague, he retired to the forest, and only survived because a dog brought him daily a piece of bread. In some countries this Saint is considered the patron of dogs.

The piece has a very strong Moorish or oriental flavour, both in the shape of the sword, as in the decoration. Acid etching (aqua forte) decoration is thoroughly used on the blade of this sword, and this technique was of common use in Toledo, were artisans were taught to use it centuries ago from the Moor invaders.

It was through correspondence with the late Claude Blair that the Spanish origin, combined with Moorish influence was confirmed. This sword despite being very ornate does show signs of period use.

Cheers Cathey

26th February 2022, 02:39 AM	#37
Cathey Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: adelaide south australia Posts: 284	East meets West or Vice a versa Hi Guys Just to confuse things a little more, this Hunting Sword is Spanish but heavily influenced by the Moors. It was the late Claude Blair that confirmed this connection and identified SAN RoqE on the blade as Saint São Roque the Patron Saint of Dogs. This sword is difficult to date as it is the only example I have come across, however Claude believed it to be Circa 1810. Nationality: Probably Cordoba, Argentina? Overall Length: 62.4 cm (24.6 inches) Blade length: 46.5 cm (18.3 inches) Blade widest point: 4.5 cm (1.8 inches) Marks, etc: Blade engraved decoration to 2/3rds and the name SAN RoqE. Decoration includes dear, standing man with hat, double headed eagle and ½ man with hat as well as decorative foliage. Description HUNTING SWORD Hispanic origin circa 1800 (Cordoba, Argentina?). Purchased by the previous owner from an antique shop in London in 1949. Ornate silver hilt includes a carved horn dog at the top of the grip connected to the lower end of grip by a silver chain. Silver work to leather scabbard, end missing. All silver fitting very tight and well made excellent quality. Double-headed eagle is included among the complicated decoration deeply chiselled into the blade. The name SAN RoqE [San Roque] is the Spanish form of that of the French saint known in English and French as “Saint Roch”. He was very popular, and many churches and religious institutions were dedicated to, or named after him. General Remarks General workmanship is extremely fine and typical of European hunting swords; however its provenance is somewhat mysterious in that the design and look is Spanish, but with a distinct Moorish flavour. When considering the name SAN RoqE on the blade it is interesting to note that there is a small city called San Roque in Colombia, and there is silver in Colombia, men with hats, deer and eagles. Regarding the dog in the hilt, this may relate to the legend of Saint São Roque which says that when São Roque was contaminated with the plague, he retired to the forest, and only survived because a dog brought him daily a piece of bread. In some countries this Saint is considered the patron of dogs. The piece has a very strong Moorish or oriental flavour, both in the shape of the sword, as in the decoration. Acid etching (aqua forte) decoration is thoroughly used on the blade of this sword, and this technique was of common use in Toledo, were artisans were taught to use it centuries ago from the Moor invaders. It was through correspondence with the late Claude Blair that the Spanish origin, combined with Moorish influence was confirmed. This sword despite being very ornate does show signs of period use. Cheers Cathey Attached Images