Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

art-of-swords: Swept-hilt Rapier Text by Tobias Capwell Sword...

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:01:06 +0800

Swept-hilt Rapier

Text by Tobias Capwell

Sword dating: circa 1605 - 1615

Culture: Hilt ~ England; blade ~ Germany

Medium: Steel, gold, silver and wood, blackened, encrusted, and damascened

Measurements: Length: 114 cm, blade; width: 3.3 cm, blade, above the ricasso; weight: 1.29 kg; length: 130.6 cm, width: 17.3 cm, guard; balance point: 15.6 cm, forward of the guard block

Inscription: ‘·SANDRINVS · SCACCHVS·’

An exceptionally rare example of Jacobean swordsmithing, this beautiful sword was as much a fashion statement as it was a lethal weapon. Distinct in style from the work of the larger Italian and German sword producing centres, this robust yet refined piece exemplifies English taste, combining a strong construction with delicate gold and silver ornament. Before Sir Richard Wallace acquired this rapier, it was in the collection of William Meyrick, the cousin and heir to the great arms and armour scholar Sir Samuel Rush Meyrick (1786-1848).

In 1861 William Meyrick stated that the hilt and pommel of this sword had been ‘recently dug up at Saffron Walden’ in Essex. The pieces were cleaned and possibly to some extent restored and a ‘suitable blade’ added to reform the fragments into a complete weapon. Though in part restored, this fine rapier remains an important example of the type of sword fashionable at the court of King James I.

A number of features mark this piece out as being English work of a high quality, rather than the product of one of the great Italian or German workshops. The very large pear-shaped pommel is typical of English swords of this period. The rounded qualities of this sword are further emphasised by the oval terminals located on the ends of the cross-guard and forward-guard, and placed centrally on the knuckle-bow and loopguard. The decoration is also distinctively English, the rich silver encrusting being found on a number of comparable English swords, including that of Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales (1594-1612), the son of King James I.

The encrusting on this sword takes the typical form of masks surrounded with feathers and foliage, while lines of silver beads form panels along the bars of the hilt and surrounding surface of the pommel. These panels are filled with very fine gold foliate scrolls. These are false-damascened; the surface is roughened or cross-hatched and covered with gold foil or wire. The style of these scrolls is closely comparable to the decoration found on knives of the period bearing London cutlers’ marks.

Source: © Trustees of the Wallace Collection 2008

kanyewesticle: mynationaltreasure: toinfinityandbeyonce: smilingemoticon: kanyewesticle: usb-don...

Mon, 20 May 2013 04:53:17 +0800

kanyewesticle:

mynationaltreasure:

toinfinityandbeyonce:

smilingemoticon:

kanyewesticle:

usb-dongle:

kanyewesticle:

it takes me like 3 days to wake up in the morning

oh my god

****ing fandom references

WHAT FANDOM? THE JESUS FANDOM?

THEY PREFER THE TERM CHRISTIANITY

This is the post that killed me

twistedviper: whorusszahhak: perfectionistdia: whorusszahhak: don’t ever take me on a date to an...

Mon, 20 May 2013 04:50:48 +0800

twistedviper:

whorusszahhak:

perfectionistdia:

whorusszahhak:

don’t ever take me on a date to an aquarium because i will ignore you and spend the whole time looking at the fish

But, if you think about it, that’s all the more reason to go. The person you’re dating gets to sit back and watch you smile and have fun. All the while, he/she’s falling deeper in love with you.

thatS REALLY CUTE IM GONNA CRY

siggymcpissyface:

Sun, 19 May 2013 19:31:48 +0800

siggymcpissyface:

super-gay-natural: esper-sparrow: when people get angry at you for liking snakes THAT IS THE...

Sun, 19 May 2013 16:00:32 +0800

super-gay-natural:

esper-sparrow:

when people get angry at you for liking snakes

THAT IS THE CUTEST ****ING SNAKE

oh-snap-pro-lifers: Another small reason why I’m pro life is because nobody says “I wish I had...

Sun, 19 May 2013 13:58:58 +0800

oh-snap-pro-lifers:

Another small reason why I’m pro life is because nobody says “I wish I had aborted my baby”. Nobody regrets the children they love, but:

So many people regret their abortions.

Photo

Sun, 19 May 2013 13:44:11 +0800

Panda hug. x

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:00:58 +0800

Panda hug. x

Photo

Sat, 18 May 2013 16:00:35 +0800

Photo

Sat, 18 May 2013 08:00:48 +0800

swagchat: wHEN CUTE PEOPLE CALL YOU CUTE

Fri, 17 May 2013 21:57:24 +0800

swagchat:

wHEN CUTE PEOPLE CALL YOU CUTE

a-dr0p-of-golden-sun: idk I thought people might want to reblog...

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:00:55 +0800

a-dr0p-of-golden-sun:

idk I thought people might want to reblog it. I guess we shall see.

efferescent: remember when a girl from my school wore a dress the same color as the green screen at...

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:19:30 +0800

efferescent:

remember when a girl from my school wore a dress the same color as the green screen at prom

oh yes

her date did too

shellhead24: If anything is too easy then it may not be worth...

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:01:07 +0800

shellhead24:

If anything is too easy then it may not be worth having.

asianhistory: Asian History and US History Minus White Guys has...

Thu, 16 May 2013 21:10:24 +0800

asianhistory:

Asian History and US History Minus White Guys has officially started an Indiegogo campaign.

I’m trying to raise a minimum of $10,000 to pay off the rest of my semester’s tuition and next semester’s tuition so that I can spend more time, money, energy, and effort here and at USHistoryminuswhiteguys! I’m currently $31,410 in debt with student loans, and at the end of next year, will have $42,500 in debt. I work a part time job and intern, and unfortunately not even scholarships, pell grants, or jobs can cover all my bills.

That’s where I’m asking my followers to step in!

The chances of me being able to continue Asian History and US History minus White Guys with any regularity or original content are very slim if I continue to struggle with making college payments. I spend most of my free time trying to make money, find money, and get money; instead of putting out content on these blogs.

I would like to change that, but I need everyone’s help. With over 80,000 followers, if all of you donated even only one dollar, I would have all my loans paid off, and would be able to do my summer podcast/review/post series on history traveling. I would even be able to afford to continue my education. I’m a young latina intending to go into non-profit work, which means I’m dedicating my life to community education and cultural access for everyone.

That dedication starts here. It’s possible if I have your help! Please reblog and consider donating. We have 48 days starting today!

Indiegogo | Asianhistory | US History Minus White Guys

onehappybastard: timgspears: Window Socket - Kyuho Song &...

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:00:33 +0800

onehappybastard:

timgspears:

Window Socket - Kyuho Song & Boa Oh

So this is an absolutley brilliant idea! Just attach the plug on to a window and it will harness solar energy. A small converter will convert it into electricity which can be freely used as a plug when you are in the car, on a plane or outside.

Love this design and I really think it has a great potential.

THIS IS AMAZING

RENEWABLE ENERGY IS THE FUTURE

ryusantiago: Translation - “The smallest action, is better than...

Thu, 16 May 2013 08:01:08 +0800

ryusantiago:

Translation - “The smallest action, is better than the biggest intention.”

A perfectly packed meal is a beautiful thing.

Thu, 16 May 2013 05:24:43 +0800

A perfectly packed meal is a beautiful thing.

art-of-swords: Austrian Rapier Dated: first half of the 17th...

Wed, 15 May 2013 22:38:33 +0800

art-of-swords:

Austrian Rapier

Dated: first half of the 17th century

Measurements: Overall length 126.2 cm, blade 108.2 cm

The distinctive hilt identifiable as Norman Type 25, finely forged of round-section bars, the termini set with crosses of pattée form. The distinctive bifurcated pommel possibly for use as a musket-rest.

The wooden grip retains its leather covering and woven brass turk’s head knots. The long, narrow double-edged blade forged with a rectangular forte and pronounced central ridge for 2/3rds of its length, becoming lenticular in its final third.

There are other 76 rapiers of quite similar form that are preserved in the Rustkammer at Schloss Ambras, Innsbruck. For this particular reason, AVB Norman believed they belonged to a particular guard company.

Source & Copyright: Auction Flex

10knotes: kimoida: I did it… I’ve finally caught them...

Wed, 15 May 2013 22:35:02 +0800

10knotes:

kimoida:

I did it… I’ve finally caught them all…..

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU THINK YOU’D NEVER SEE

This post has been featured on a 1000notes.com blog.