The Sword of John Hampden(?)

[shayde78]

Hello all,

I am wondering if anyone knows anything about the a sword in the Royal Collection (Queen's Guard Chamber, Windsor Castle), listed as RCIN 62994. (see listing here: https://www.rct.uk/collection/62994/rapier)

Per the above linked site, this sword is claimed to have "belonged to John Hampden (1594-1643), one of the leaders of the parliamentary opposition to Charles I".

The hilt is attributed to being designed by sculptor Benvenuto Cellini.

This sword is also depicted in Fig 37 of Gardner's "Armour in England From the Earliest Times to the Reign of James the First"

I am curious if anyone knows anything about this sword, the sculptor, and the accuracy of attributing this to a date in the first half of the 1600s. A few months ago, I posted a sword in my collection with a hilt that has some similarities in decorative technique (although not the same motif) and it was generally thought that such chiseling of steel would not have been seen on something from the 16th or 17th centuries.

I know museums and armories can get dates wrong, so I figured I'd come to the actual experts here

As always, thank you for your expertise,
-Rob

[Interested Party]

The swords description says "This sword, with its superbly sculptural hilt, was once thought to be the work of the Florentine goldsmith and sculptor Benvenuto Cellini. As with the 'Cellini Shield', the tradition was refuted when historic arms and armour came under more serious scrutiny in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. " They also say that John Hampton's ownership is "tradition". This seems to cast some doubt on its providence before the late 18th century.

Cellini was an amazingly talented renaissance man. Artist, warrior, engineer. Caught up in the politics of his time. His Autobiography is a fascinating work, although I am sure he put himself in a very flattering light. He produced a salt cellar that I thought was amazing as well as his escape from prison. To me I can see why it was said to be his work stylistically.

It is a pity that one can't quite make out the makers mark or that there isn't a picture of the whole sword.

[Jim McDougall]

According to Norman ("The Rapier and Smallsword 1400-1820; 1980, p.327) "...in the last century (19th) a large number of more elaborately decorated weapons and pieces of armor were attributed to the famous sculptor-goldsmith Benvenuto Cellini (1500-71). All are now ascribed to different schools and craftsmen".

In "Wallace Collection" (plate 113. p.264, A511) there is a silver encrusted sword made for Prince Henry, Prince of Wales about 1610-12. The elaborate relief carvings are magnificent work, and the sword is open hilt rather than with typical guard systems of rapiers etc.

What is notable is that the blade has the unicorn marking of Clemens Horn, Solingen, (1586-1631) being that Horn was maker of some of the most prestigious blades of late 16th into early 17th c. for royal personages of those times,some of them being,
"...Prince Charles and King James I,and JOHN HAMPDEN,"
(#65 at Windsor).


It is noted in the Windsor description that the hilt of Hampdens sword is by an anonymous artist...but likely of course they suggest that the work is of the Cellini school.

It would seem that the artisan of this sword for Prince Henry Prince of Wales c. 1610 was following this convention.

Given that these swords were of the same period, of similar high stature with blades by Clemens Horn, perhaps the 'tradition' developed with the chain of provenance ultimately ending up with another Prince of Wales, George IV who finally received this sword in 1807.

The sword certainly was in good company.

[Interested Party]

Good Lord, the mark is a unicorn! I don't know why I couldn't make that out. I ended up screenshotting it and rotating to all orientations. I am always humbled by Mr. McDougall’s research and have learned from him yet again by reverse engineering the process somewhat. Thanks Jim!

The Wallace Collection Vol II mentions that the globular pommel was popular in England but not proof of English manufacture. Later the discussion of example A597 says the style was popular "....1580-1680 when the fashion seems to have been brought to the country by foreign craftsman (cf. No. A511)." A511 being the prince of Wales’ sword. The first attached photo is of this sword’s forte and hilt. It shows the ostrich feathers and the PH monogram. I personally believe this hilt, a gift from Charles Emanuel of Savoy, to be in baroque style, while Hampton’s hilt with the elongated figures seems to be in the style of mannerism. The difference in styles, themes, and improbability of being sourced from the same geographic region would on the surface make the hilts seem unrelated other than of course the Clemens Horn blade.


In an experiment I tried to cut corners by using ChatGPT and Copilot. I fell into a multiple hour mobius strip of unsatisfactory answers. Though not directly related to these specific examples I found the names of Arnold Lulls (jeweler and usurer to Queen Ann of Denmark, partners with a John Spielman) and John Spillman also a jeweler of the period. Both of whom may have produces high end sword hilts. Spellman if he existed, is said to have produced basket hilts and hunting swords. These men do not exist in this forum's data base, and I have not found examples of their work. Any ideas concerning the veracity of these two gentlemen?

Finally, here are two portraits of the young Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales with swords though not the one in question. Bellow these portraits are two posthumous statues of John Hampden with side swords and a portrait with a sword hilt that could be loosely based on the OP sword.

[Jim McDougall]

Thank you so much I.P. for the kind words! actually you're pretty good at research as well, and we pretty much learn from each other along with the others who contribute here.

I confess I could NOT figure out what this was either, and had to look at it upside down and sideways........feeling pretty lost I decided to go to my trusty copy of 'Kinman' ("European Makers of Edged Weapons and Their Marks"). Staffan has done a magnificent job of compiling all these markings from the well known compendiums. ......and there it was !

While not well versed in the art forms and these stylings used in the creation of elaborately designed hilts, it does seem there were a great deal of such hilts and swords created for diplomatic occasions between these royal courts.
Excellent notes and links well illustrating this!

[Interested Party]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Thank you so much I.P. for the kind words! actually you're pretty good at research as well, and we pretty much learn from each other along with the others who contribute here.

You are going to make me blush!

Here are some blades that Norman references in regard to the Hampden hilt. First are a couple of hilts in the Wallace Collection that are stylistically related in components.
https://wallacelive.wallacecollectio...ype=detailView
https://wallacelive.wallacecollectio...ype=detailView

This is the one we have been looking for! Norman claims (P. 189) this is from the same workshop as the "so-called Hampden sword".
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O...apier-unknown/
Sadly, the Victoria and Albert Museum also has this hilt being from an unknown workshop. Though they do say France as its place of manufacture. The blade appears to have pierced work. It is amazing how such artists can fade into the mists of time so quickly. I wonder if they felt unappreciated by their patron during their lifetimes?