'Rose' Mark on the spine of Solingen blades

[Radboud]

Solingen in Germany has for a very long time been a major manufacturer and exporter of sword and knife blades. These blades were exported far and wide; sold to local cutlers who would mount them on hilts in the local fashions.

While some blades were visibly marked as having come from Solingen, others were not leaving us to make educated guesses of their origins based on decorations and styles.

Two common clues are the 'cartouche' on the ricasso and the presence of a "Rose" on the blade spine at the base. The Rose seams to have appeared in the latter half of the 18th Century and disappeared in the 1820s when the decoration styles changed as well.

Pawel Bartela askes if this change is related to the abolishment of guilds in 1809 by Napoleon:

One of the Solingen marks on the back of the blade. Do you know sabers from the 1820s and later with such a sign? Does the end of the marking have anything to do with the dissolution of craftsmen's guilds in Solingen by Napoleon in 1809?
Decree of March 31, 1809 in Dutchy of Berg (Solingen). [https://wiki.genealogy.net/Patentensteuer_(Westfalen)

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While I don't know the answer, it does appear from known examples that the Rose is missing from blades after the 1820s.

It should also be added that the makers at Solingen were very accommodating and happy to apply marks to their blades in line with their clients' needs. Examples of this are the blades imported by Runkel to the UK between 1780 and 1808. These are marked with his name prior to them being engraved and finished with blue and gilt decoration.

Below are examples of swords from my collection with Solingen made blades that pre-date the change in the 1820s:

French 'Cote de Melon' light cavalry officers' sabre:


Example of the Solingen Cartouche and 'talismanic' decorations


Going by the hilt style and blade decorations, I would date this sword to the 1780s.

"Rose" Mark


French 'Garde de Bataille' Heavy cavalry sword:


Cartouche and Solingen style Trophy of Arms:



Missing its blue and gilt.

Rose Mark


French Dragoon Officers 'Garde de Bataille'


Cartouche


Rose mark