1497) MUSEUM QUALITY POLISH / HUNGARIAN MACE CIRCA 1630: Highly decorated with silver and copper inlay and etching…. exceptionally elegant ….in superb mint condition!
Provenance: From an American collector whom I sold it to several years ago. I recently acquired it back from his estate from a third-party representative who had no idea of its true value. It is now offered at a fraction of what he paid for it.
Discussion: The most recognizable feature of a mace is the head. It is also one of the most critical features in dating a mace. Early heads were attached to wooden hafts. The shapes vary. The mace used in the Battle of Hastings depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry is three-lobed. Mace heads during this period were usually made of cast bronze or hammer forged. As iron billets became more available, the mace evolved around 1320 to a full metal mace with vertical flanges on the head and a rounded grip with a pommel. During this period, the mace was used very heavily by the Italian “Cavalieri” mercenaries based in Milan outside the reach of Papal rule. The next major change in the mace is the Gothic mace that evolved with cusping and piercings and followed Gothic art and architecture. The Gothic mace was made from as early as the 1450s until the 1530s. Contrary to popular belief, the Gothic mace did not stop being produced on January 1, 1500. The Renaissance mace evolved circa 1530. It was larger with a more combative appearance. Why is this mace so highly decorated, well-preserved, and large yet still retaining its combative appearance? It has been suggested that Western European maces from 1550 to 1600 ( see pages 371, #26 to #27 in my book) were primarily used as symbols of authority and processional use. These later maces were large, heavy, and difficult to wield with one hand. To add validity to this theory, a disproportionately large amount of maces after 1550 have survived in mint condition since they were A) seldom used for war, B) made to be beautiful, and C) people kept and preserved them since they were decorative and looked expensive.
Description: Constructed of steel with a six-flange mace head with inlaid silver and copper decoration en-suit, spherical finial with vertical incisions, solid steel haft, the grip decorated and upper section below the head decorated en-suite, raised molding between the grip and octagonal center of the mace, a slightly overlapping pommel, pommel butt cap of silver and etched. Conserved/restored to museum standards.
Length: 23 inches.
Conclusion: The original owner of this mace must have been a very wealthy individual. This was not a fighting mace but a mace representing the wealth and status of the owner. In other words a status symbol, somewhat like an expensive gold Rolex watch in our day and age. With its decoration, workmanship, and condition, this mace is an exceptionally appealing collectible that makes a statement. You get a lot of flash and value for the selling price which is much less than what the last collector paid for. Act now. It will sell. Contact me for complete information and low price!!!*
