dead sword hilt semantics

[shayde78]

Originally Posted by Triarii

I'm not sure which element you are referring too. In English, C19th collectors named these 'mortuary ' swords because some of the typical faces, often with the mid C17th 'van dyke' moustache, supposedly commemorated Charles I, but that isn't true. Mine has a range of faces, one of which looks like a woman and another more like Jesus than Charles I!

If you mean the small side branches with the curled ends, then they are also typical of the style.

The black/gold one is supposedly carried by Cromwell in Ireland, but the provenance is unlikely.

Tiari,

I believe Elmereya was referencing the 'ribbon-like' feature of the basket guard, as per the blue 'ribbon' drawn in the middle of the four example pictures. I never picked up on the fact that this feature is oft repeated on these swords, and look forward to seeing what interpretations this forum may yield. My first thought was that perhaps a ribbon of this shape was worn as part of the grieving process - but then I recalled that the term 'mortuary' swords is a collectors' phrase, and that these were not actually swords of mourning.
Just my unlearned musings as I await the experts' opinions