A Very Fine 15th C. Late Gothic Mace in the Museum of Lucerne, Switzerland

[Matchlock]

The mace ca. 1450-80, the grip retaining its original cord binding and minium (red lead) paint on the turned haft, whilst the flanges retain traces of their characteristic Late Gothic colors red and green respectively.

Photographed by the author in the Lucerne reserve collection, together with three fine Early Renaissance (ca. 1525-30) Landsknecht pike heads and two finely writhen and carved Landsknecht sword pommels, ca. 1530.

Best,
Michael

[fernando]

What an extremely fine piece!
It must have been an honour for those XV century soldiers to be hit by this mace head
... as a thrill for the owner to hold such intrincately binded grip.
This is when weapons become works of art .
Thanks for sharing these pics, Michl .

[Matchlock]

Exactly, 'Nando!

We should remember though that the Gothic and Renaissance, as I stated several times, were very colorful periods of art, and all works of art and archicture were richly adorned. We know of existing profusely painted helmets and other pieces of armor. That's why I hate the bright polished surfaces we mostly see nowadays - those items originally mostly never looked quite like their present appearance suggests ...

Best,
Michl

[Matchlock]

Images from their website.

This specimen seems to be older, probably still High Gothic, 14th c.

[Matchlock]

The rest.

The hole in the haft was for attaching a wrist leather strap.

m

[Jim McDougall]

An absolutely fantastic piece, and it is truly fascinating to see the kind of design and embellishment was applied to an instrument which was so simply brutal as a blunt force club. Obviously a callous sounding comment, but it does seem that maces were not regarded in the same way as edged weapons or guns, so it does seem interesting that even a 'lowly' instrument in concept eventually gained such stature in the armouries of chivalry.

I have seen these spiked, cylindrical type maces shown as early as in statutes of weapons c.1165, and Im sure much earlier. Obviously we can trace back to the clubs with spikes dragged along the ground by Org, the caveman but the striking instrument as such was certainly important in attacking armoured opponents times more in medieval period.

All the best,
Jim

[Matchlock]

Absolutely, Jim,

Clubs and maces seem to have existed since the first pre-hominide australopithecus grabbed a bone or a piece of wood just to raise it against an opponent or animal.

They, though, have not always been regarded as mere blunt weapons but even as early as the oldest historic times, especially in Ancient Greece and the Sumerian period, they had become symbols of dignity, later stylized as scepters.

The origin of a scepter of course was a club or mace.

I remember seeing many medieval portraits and attach two from the famos Codex Manesse, ca. 1300, depicting scepters derived from maces.

Best,
Michael

[Matchlock]

A portrait of the Emperor Maximilian I, by Bernhard Strigel, Memmingen/Bavaria, ca. 1515.

[kronckew]

the mace is still a high symbol of authority, in the UK and many other countries (including the USA). parliament here cannot meet without the royal mace. the USA uses a mace in the house of representatives to indicate when it is in session, and to restore order when a member gets unruly, thus it is still used as an official 'weapon'.

[Matchlock]

Very well put, kronckew, thank you!

m

[Matchlock]

King Otto the Great (+973 a.D.) with his scepter; book illumination, Magdeburg, ca. 1200.

m

[Jim McDougall]

Outstanding perspective Michael and Kronckew!!
I hadn't remembered the sceptre and its lowly beginnings as a simple mace rising into a regal symbol.
With the reference to its application in politics, it seems that our congressional 'leaders' (?) could use a good bonk now and then, but then its doubtful that a hit on the head would be much noticed
Teddy Roosevelts axiom, walk softly and carry a big stick does remain well placed.

Good notes on the use of colors Michael, and it does seem that the modern perception of arms and armour gleaming garishly is quite out of line with the way things really looked. While armor was often darkened to protect it from corrosion, weapons were often russeted or japanned for like reasons, of course makers maximizing on the effect by applied decoration to add dramatic effect.

What did the colors red and green signify though? You note 'Gothic' , was this simply a favored combination, or was the use on a mace for example significant? I know that in India, certain weapons were painted red for auspicious religious symbolism.

All the best,
Jim

[Matchlock]

Hi Jim,

Thank you as much as always for your brilliant thoughts.

From all my studies, as I have often tried to point out in several posts, all I can tell for sure is that red and green unquestionably were the main colors of at least the Romanic (ca. 950-1200) and Gothic (ca. 1200-1500) art periods.

With all my very best wishes,

Michael, bidding you a very good night out there on route 66 !