Odd sword that sold at Dorotheum

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

Originally Posted by Iain

Hi Ibrahiim,

There's nothing really schiavona like in the pommel in my view. It's not a "cat's head". It's a style of pommel known in the Oakeshott typology as Type I1, popular in the 14 and 15th centuries.

The blade could well be a German product although that's somewhat indeterminate from the imagery available. The auction house dating of 15th century seems plausible due the mark and style of inlay.

I wouldn't describe the quillions as "naga" that's a term related specifically to Buddhist and Hindu mythology. They are dragons from what we can see in the images. The arms and ornate collar are highly reminiscent of jineta. However the dragon form does point away from classical Nasrid designs.

In the image you linked - that's a Qajar revival piece from the 19th century.

The piece under discussion does not fit anything visible in the icongraphy or archeology of Byzantine or Trebizond that I'm aware of.


The Persian idea is interesting Jim, as I recall Chinese style dragons (as these seem to be from the head shape) started to be in vogue during the Timurid period.

The pommel looks potentially older than the rest of the hilt assembly to me...

Salaams Iain, It may indeed be an Oakeshott Type XI. Readers may see https://www.google.com/search?q=oake...&bih=665&dpr=1 plus a vast array of other available data on probably the greatest ever specialist historian on medieval swords .. Actually I didn't get much in feedback when I typed Oakshott wrongly misspelled !! into library search but with the correction now giving lots of references... OAKESHOTT.

There were a number of Oakeshott styles made in Spain, Italy and Germany and some ended up in armouries in Alexandria and plundered in and out of Mamluke hands etc. Some were Milanese with an M stamp. The Nasrid form seems to be there and I also agree on a mixed hilt/blade situation here. The quite big decorated cuff is interesting... I haven't seen that yet in Oakeshott Type XI but as it states in the great masters guide on this vast array of swords a degree of flexibility is required when viewing such examples.

The work already at Library will take me a while to plough through but I look forward to that.

Regards,
Ibrahiim al Balooshi.