The Sword of John Hampden(?)

[Jim McDougall]

Here are the pages from these references,
"London Silver Hilted Swords" Leslie Southwick, 2001

"Swords and Sword Makers of England and Scotland" Richard Bezdek, 2003

[Jim McDougall]

With these pages from Southwick and Bezdek, it seems these records are about the sum of what is known about South. In looking further into the sword we are discussing (OP) the questions remain, if South indeed fashioned this hilt, where did he get the inspiration for the themes?

Why was this hilt presumed Cellini? Did Cellini produce hilts? or was there some other work which might have inspired South to follow this theme?
Next stop, checking 'Boccia & Coelho' to see if any work by him shown there.

Then, WHY the tradition that this sword belonged to Hampden?
It is interesting that he was the cutler to both James I and Charles I.

South was furnishing swords to Parliamerntary forces.

We know South was instrumental in convincing Charles I to begin the German swordsmith enterprise at Hounslow Heath in 1629, as this was South's own home neighborhood. In 1632 he was granted a mark for his blades by the Cutlers Company.

As a cutler, and dealing in blades and mounting, it is curious that South would have been the one who created this delicate art work. Others creating silver hilts etc. were often jewelers and goldsmiths, yet South seems focused on the supply of swords.

[Interested Party]

Jim thank you for the pages!

I have little to contribute today. I am more mobile and getting caught up on business. I am still looking for more images of South hilts and hilts that are said to be similar to Hampden's for comparison to the works we have been discussing. I think the blade made by South for James I could be of use if I can find an image. I have been surprised that it has so far been so elusive to find online. My sole contribution today is what I believe might be the armor that was possibly en suite to the Pince of Wales sword and a portrait of him wearing said armor but with a very different sword. Does that poke a hole in the theory that sword and armor were delivered together?

I had suspected that the encrustation on the blade were not actual "laurels" as described in The Wallace Collection but pomegranates. This suspicion is given some credence by the pomegranate fruit show repeatedly throughout the armor. What is the significance of the pomegranate here? I know in colonial setting the motif was slightly altered to be a squash blossom that had indigenous religious connotations through central and north America.

[Jim McDougall]

You bet I.P. ! and likewise thank you for these images and more intriguing ideas...pomegranites etc? hadnt noted these details.

Found this:
from "Swords and Daggers" John Hayward, 1951, p.5,
"...during the first half of the 17th century, a number of hilt constructions were developed in England that were peculiar to this country."
further,
"...the decoration of these hilts was executed in silver and gold encrustation and damascene, often of high quality. Some of the 'damaskers' mentioned in contemporary English documents were probably foreigners, but there is good evidence, for example in the Royal Wardrobe Accounts, to show that such native CUTLERS AS ROBERT SOUTH AND THOMAS CHESHIRE were supplying work like this kind in the early 17th c.".

I checked Boccia & Coelho ("Armi Bianche Italiene", Florence, 1975) and found no evidence of Cellini work on hilts. Reading his biography however, thus guy was one of the most dynamic, scandalous characters ever.

So it seems that the elaborate work in these hilts is quite likely by South.

[Jim McDougall]

From: "A Rare English Sword from Plymouth Colony", Anthony D. Darling, Arms Collecting, Vol.20, #2:

from a sword excavated at the Edward Winslow house property, 1898.
It is noted in Norman (1980) that in its earliest form this hilt style is found in Europe from c.1490 to mid 16th c. It reappeared for a time in England briefly in the 17thc.

"...the fashion of a simple cross guard occurred as a result of a large number of Knights of the Bath created by James I at his coronation in 1603. It was usual for a sword of antique type to be used in the Bath ceremony. The finest of this group was made for Henry, Price of Wales, and bears his crest. This sword can be dated prior to his death in 1612. At least one undecorated example of this type is known. It is shown in the portrait of the First Earl of Doune, in the rones of the Order of the Bath.c.1605. the example illustrated in this paper from the Tojhusmuseet has a cross guard about identical from the Plymouth sword hilt".

I would note here that South was bound to Thomas Cheshire in 1603, who was officially cutler to Prince Henry, Prince of Wales, and son of King James I.
The sword for Henry was once thought to be a gift to him from Louis the Dauphine in 1607 , but as noted by Mann (Wallace Coll. 1962.. p.263) this seems unlikely.

It does seem this hilt style is of vintage form as noted, and distinctly English as shown in the Plymouth sword example relating to these spherical pommel forms.

What puzzles me at this point is, why would such a sword of this regal stature be associated with John Hampden, who was a Presbyterian cousin of Oliver Cromwell, staunch Parliamentarian often at odds with the Royal Court. It seems entirely contrary to such context , and clearly South was entirely and officially to the King.

Interestingly South was instrumental to establishing Hounslow in 1629, which was later taken by Cromwell's forces. Aylward (1945, p.32) notes that "Cromwells New Model Army, apart from what it could get from Hounslow was supplied with Dutch (German) blades".
This was of course 1642, Hampden was killed 1643.
Not sure if even a tenuous connection could be made with this.

Thus, the Cellini connection seems entirely fanciful, and unsupported, and the Hampden 'tradition' seems questionable at this point. Why a 'firebrand' of Parliamentary background and prominent command would have a sword clearly of the cutler of the Royal Wardrobe ?

Admittedly there are differences in the so called Hampden sword of OP, the pommel taller, the quillons slightly alternated and the rapier ring guard, but the manner of decoration and styling ring closely to these English swords described.

[shayde78]

Gents,

I apologize for not being more involved in this thread after posting. I greatly appreciate all the wonderful scholarly information. This is exactly why this forum is THE resource for such queries. You're all amazing

Thanks again,
-Rob