![]() |
![]() |
#1 | |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 237
|
![]()
I was fortunate to own the sword that I am going to share with you. I obtained it from George Douglass, actually his estate after he died back in 1995. I sold it two years ago to the Met where it is on display, or so I am told. George's name might ring a bell for some students inasmuch as his dad, George Sr., was one of the founders of the arms and armor club along with Bashford Dean. In fact, he and Dean went on buying trips to Europe. I bought a number of things from George Jr. and since his interest was not really in the armor and arms area, I suspect that these things were acquired by his dad.
I never owned up to owning it prior to this, now that it's safely at the Met there is no harm. It was evidently fairly well known in some circles; Oakschott told me that he knew of it. I am going to reproduce the writeup that was done by the Met ages ago. The sword was on display there for a while prior to my obtaining it. Quote:
Anyhoo, I'll start posting some pictures now. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 237
|
![]()
Schloss Erbach contains a well known armory from which piecs were sold at a number of well known sales early in the past century.
The post card that is reproduced shows the sword on display. At least one of the Graffs was well known for outright swiping of stuff. There is a story of him absconding from the Vatican with an object under his cloak. I think that the shield that is in front of the sword is also now at the Met. Gotta check on that. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 237
|
![]()
These engravings show a classic 16th century battle scene with a medallion of Marcus Curtius descending into hell.
For completeness I am also showing the medallion from the other side. This shows Gaius Mucius Scaevola putting his hand into the flames. These were two popular and inspiring images at the time and they both appear on the helmet of the royal Saxon guard. The helmet was in the Higgins Armory Collection and kindly made available to me by Kent Russell, curator at the time. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 132
|
![]()
A remarkable piece! Thank for sharing the story of its provenance. I do not recall seeing it on display at the Met when I visited last month, but perhaps I overlooked it... I did get a photo of the Italian sword mentioned; there is no image of it in the Met's online collection as yet.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 456
|
![]()
Thank you for sharing this remarkable and well-provenance example, Ed.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 |
Lead Moderator European Armoury
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Portugal
Posts: 9,694
|
![]()
Great sword, Ed
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Scotland
Posts: 125
|
![]()
This superb sword is on display (or was 3 months ago), in a case in the middle of the gallery. Its label gives its provenance as Erbach castle but says that it is on loan from Laird & Kathleen Landmann, from 2013, not owned by the Met. Very odd, considering Ed's account of it above. The Landmanns are noted elsewhere in the gallery as both donors and lenders of other items of arms & armour, especially swords.
Neil |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 397
|
![]()
A magnificent sword , it seems more people claim ownership or previous ownership
that or the MET made a mistake ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 237
|
![]()
I am resurrecting this thread to add a bit more information.
Laird Landsmann did, indeed, purchase the sword from me. I didn't mention that detail because I was not sure how the Met was going to handle it, whether the loan would be Anonymous or not. Obviously it is public so I can amplify. What happened was that I had two pieces that the Met wanted, a half armor and the sword. They bought the armor outright. Laird had bought and either donated or loaned a number of swords to the Met so he was approached to make the acquisition of the sword and then make the loan. My understanding is that it is on permanent loan but that info could be wrong. I suspect that the sword will be at the Met forever. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#10 |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 233
|
![]()
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing!
Do you have enough info/ pictures to share the half armor also? |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#11 | |
Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 237
|
![]() Quote:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#12 |
Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 253
|
![]()
It remembers me of those stocks given away by the popes to those "defenders of the faith", like the one for Don Juan de Austria and that of the count of Tendilla.
There is a list of receivers here: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estoque_y_Capelo_bendito But of course, a related inscription would be something to be expected. Last edited by midelburgo; 16th October 2019 at 04:57 PM. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
|