Silent Psychotherapist

Copper Daggers

Photo #1

Dated: 1773 B.C.E. — 1650 B.C.E. (13th Dynasty; Middle Kingdom)

Culture: Egyptian

Medium: blade - copper alloy; handle - bronze inlaid with wood and ivory

Measurements: overall length, 25.8 cm with a width of 4.9 cm 

Photo #2

Dated: 1773 B.C.E. — 1650 B.C.E.

Culture: Egyptian

Medium: handle of bone inlay; blade, copper alloy; bronze

Measurements: overall length, 22 cm with a width of 5.3 cm 

European Sword

Dated: circa 1570 

Maker: Miguel Cantero

Culture: Toledo, Spain (blade); Dresden, Germany (hilt)

Medium and Techniques: steel, iron, partly gilt, encrusted with silver, with copper wire

Inscriptions: ‘MIGUEL CANTERO’;’EN SOLO DIO CONFIO’ and a crowned ‘C’ for Miguel Cantero of Toledo, Spain

Measurements: overall length: 109.5 cm, hilt length: 18 cm, blade length: 91.5 cm, quillons width: 26.5 cm, hilt depth: 13.6 cm

This is one of the finest swords in the Museum’s collection. This type, with a simple cross-shaped hilt similar to old medieval swords, remained in use in Saxony until the 17th century. The sword was probably used as a military rather than a civilian weapon as its open hilt could be compensated by other hand protection such as a gauntlet or chain mail. Its rich ornament of silver on a gilded background suggests it was probably used by a wealthy prince or his household guard and possibly comes from the armoury of the Electors of Saxony.

The blade is a fine example from Toledo in Spain and is signed by the maker Miguel Cantero. Sword blades were articles of international trade, made in a few important centres and shipped all over Europe where they were fitted with hilts in the local fashion. During the 16th and 17th centuries the sword blades of Toledo, Valencia and Milan were the most sought after although the largest centre of production was the German town of Solingen.

Guild regulations in Toledo were strict. Those seeking to practise as swordmakers had to pass strict tests of quality stipulated by the King. The finest European hilts were usually equipped with a Spanish blade but if not available a German blade (sometimes with a spurious Spanish inscription) was fitted instead.

Swords were not just weapons but important decorative elements in masculine costume. They were symbols of honour and rank for their owners throughout Europe. They remained an indispensible feature of outdoor dress of any person with pretensions to status until the late 18th century in Europe.

On the rocks?

Diedrich had a specific brand in mind - not a particularly expensive label, but good quality if his opinion was worth anything. He reached for a glass while he waited for her to respond.

He pulled out one of his premade cards from his pocket, holding it so that the easy to read lettering was visible to her.

Can I get you anything?

Composite Sword

Dated: first quarter of the 17th century

Culture: European

Measurements: overall length 118 cm

The sword has a straight, double-edged blade of hexagonal section, the first part with central groove featuring two slightly legible inscriptions. The hilt comes with lower side ring and guard, fig-shaped pommel from the 16th Century and a later added iron grip.

Spanish Dagger

Dated: 19th century

Medium: steel, jet, silver

Measurements: overall length: 25 cm (9-3/4 inch)

The dagger is made of steel and has a jet (lignite) handle sculpted with caryatids (a sculpted female figure). The dagger also features a silver ferrule.

Chinese Qing Dynasty Twin Jian Swords

Dated: mid-19th century

Medium: steel, rayskin, brass, hardwood

Measurements: overall length 64.2 cm

The swords have straight, double-edged blades forged with a central ridge, each inlaid with the Mao Xiu or Pleiades, in brass. The hilts are symmetrical, with brass pommels, guards and ferrules engraved overall, the hardwood grips reeded on the obverse and flat on the reverse, fitting neatly into the shared wooden scabbard covered in polished rayskin and mounted in engraved brass en suite with the hilts.

Stiletto Dagger

Dated: mid-16th century

Culture: Florentine, Italy

Part of the Pitt Rivers Museum Founding Collection. Given to the Museum in 1884

This weapon is a type of poignard (dagger) known as a stiletto, meaning, ‘Little Steel’ in Italian. Taking their cue from this elegant but deadly weapon, ladies’ shoes with long, thin heels have also become known as stilettos.

Italian princes and dukes issued stilettos to their gunners, as the principal weapon of self-defence, should the artillery line be overrun. Gunners often had their stilettos inscribed with mathematical and geometric scales to help them calculate the correct angle for their cannons.

Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus)