2097 Antique Sword
2097) A MASSIVE DECORATED OFFICER’S GRADE GERMAN WAR BROADSWORD CIRCA 1580:
Introduction: This is a massive, stout German broadsword. Its blade is highly decorated and, I believe, 100% original as of the day it was made. It also has the distinction of being massive. A recent visitor described it as a sword for “King Kong”. Its construction suggests it was for a very large, high-ranking officer.
This sword is best described as a Tessak. The Tessak is a North German or Scandinavian war broadsword. Tessaks were in vogue just before rapiers became more popular and the sword of choice. They are, however, incorrectly referred to as a “SINCLAIR “(“Ssinclairsabeln”).
In 1604, Christian IV started buying military swords from armies throughout Europe to be sold to the farmers in his country who had been there since 1589 as added support to his army.
The Tessak sword most often had a curved blade with a shallow, wide fuller running the full length of the blade. The Tessak arrived in Norway around the year 1600. Most swords were used and showed signs of age. Every year, the farmer had to bring his weapons to the “Valeting” (weapons meet) to prove that he still had his mandatory weapon.
Discussion: On August 26th, 1612, a group of 300 Scottish mercenaries from the Faithless, led by Lord (Colonel) George Sinclair, tried to enlist with the Swedes to fight in the Kalmar War. During their trip to Sweden via Norway, they carried only light arms, as they were to be equipped upon arrival. A largely peasant Norwegian militia of about 500 ambushed the Scots at the narrowest part of the valley at Kringen. Lord Sinclair was the first to die. In the 19th century, arms historians incorrectly assumed Tessaks were Scottish swords brought by the mercenaries because some had basket hilts.
Description: Constructed with a broad, quickly expanding to the tip flat blade, with a wide center fuller and a smaller fuller along the false edge on the top, the iron basket of square steel arms; the hilt is of characteristic form but with superb workmanship with decoration hash marks on the hammer welds, six-sided horizontal guard with vertically recurved tips with boldly shaped globular terminals each chiseled to a finely checkered design, a shell guard at the hilt bottom, pommel decorated en suite with the quillon terminals, and original leather with silver wire, covered wooden grip, with two ferrules.
Decoration: This sword features a charming, folk-style arrangement of celestial engravings characteristic of European military sidearms of the late 1500s and early 1600s. The motifs include a crescent moon with a human face, radiant multi-pointed suns or stars, an arm emerging from a cloud, and a narrow, sword-like linear design. Smaller eight-pointed stars and intersecting rays complete the cosmic composition. This combination of sun, moon, stars, and a sword-bearing arm is associated with Southern German export blades, particularly those produced around 1600 in centers such as Solingen and Passau.
The celestial imagery may have served a talismanic purpose, reflecting contemporary beliefs that astrological symbols offered soldiers good fortune and protection in battle. These engravings also reflected popular decorative traditions among German blade-makers supplying military markets throughout Europe, including Britain and Scandinavia.
Length: 38.5 inches.
Provenance: From a world-class American collection.
Conclusion: A very collectible officer-grade massive sword with a high degree of cavalier flair. As original as the day it was made. A fine addition to any collection that resonates with quality. A lot of history and value for the money. Almost every collection has, or should have, a Tessak. The expanding, wide blade screams chivalry and class. Contact me now to get the lowest possible price. ACT-NOW!!!*
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