I'd like to gather some pictures of painted ornementation on sword pommels (and guards). What kind of paint was actually used, enamel?

This sword below (it is currently at the musee de cluny in Paris during the exposition dedicated to the sword). I have seen it on the forum before, but I can't recall where. A better shot or even a close shot would be great. Other examples would be awesome.

Thanks in advance.

J

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I've shown this before but here are some images of it:

"The Sword of Saint George"

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Click photos for full-sized versions

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fantastic pictures. Thx for taking the time to re upload them here Nathan.

I wonder about the details of this pommel. Even if the picture close up exceeds my expectation it can't beat direct examination (damn, I will have to go to the paris expo after all), it is still hard to figure out if:

the enamel is applied directly on the metal, or if there is a layer of glass/crystal underneath (I mean in order to obtain this translucent quality you have to have a transparent medium do you?)

is the arch gothic border actually raised from the bottom of the pommel (it would make sense if there is a "lense" of glass crystal underneath) or simply painted on the bottom of the pommel.

I have looked at cold enamel tutorials and it still seems quiet complicated in the sense that control of the substance seems to be an issue (what I've seen was about simply pouring the enamel in a recessed area).

Can one paint enamel? And in which case do you think model enamel paint would produce a convincing effect? Did anyone tried? (I've seen heraldic devices painted on some deltin pommels already but not something of that scale).

Looks like cloisonne to me:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloisonn%C3%A9

It's both an ancient and preferred method for doing exactly what you are describing. There is even some from Sutton Hoo:

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highligh...page=20819

The above example is of course, elaborate - with glass inlays and detailed wire-work. However, the simplest form would be etching out the metal and simply painting the recesses with enamel - such as appears in the photo which Nathan posted or the A&A Edward III below. :)

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Photo intellectual property of Kult of Athena and Arms & Armor of Minnesota.

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your input, that led me to refine my search and I found this great video made by vanessa Richi, professionnal "emailleuse" chez Jean Richard (luxury watches), demonstrating cloisonné enamel. It's in french but subbed in english. Spendid and very informative.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbTgrYWwxp8

edit: one thing is still bugging me. She says that the watchmaker has to use extreme caution when mounting the enamel background on the watch, as it is very fragile. It seems unlikely that it might be used on a sword pommel...

The enamel background for the watch is fairly thin stuff, so you'd have to be careful, if you bend it or hit it the enamel would probably come off. A sword pommel can dissipate quite a bit more force and it doesn't deform easily, so it shouldn't be a problem. That being said, if you hit it with a hammer you'd probably have to redo the work...it's just glass after all.

EDIT: To add one more tidbit; the earlier-mentioned Sutton Hoo sword is not enamelled. It is cloisonne, but with cut garnets set in rather than enamel.

Johan Schubert Moen

I know I'm reviving an old thread here, but does anyone have any other pictures of painted pommels? I'm trying to find some artwork to paint on my Durer.

The Met's got the pommel of Peter of Dreux, believed to have been lost at al-Mansourah.
http://www.metmuseum.org/collections/search-t...s/40005997
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And a 13th century dagger pommel, also at the Met;
http://www.metmuseum.org/collections/search-t...&img=1
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All of those look like glass enamel, not paint.
Mark

A worthwhile film from the V&A explaining the technique of champlevé enameling.
http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/c/champ...1100-1250/

I don't understand how they could enamel both sides of a pommel at the same time without the enameling running. Are these pommels constructed of multiple plates, or is this a type of "sealing-wax" enameling, where glass panes or rods were only softened before application instead of using powdered glass?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champlev%C3%A9

The Dreux Window at Chartres Cathedral
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons...dral01.jpg

And the window showing Peter dropping his sword after being wounded at the Battle of Mansourah in 1250, commonly known as the "Mauclerc" window. Peter's nickname was given due to his bad intent towards the clergy in Britanny, so it was undoubtedly considered a just reward to show his defeat in a church window. The pommel was discovered in a Damascus market.
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http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&...9006,d.aWw

STEPHEN V. GRANCSAY wrote:

A FRENCH CRUSADER'S SWORD POMMEL ------------- Our pommel is enriched with champleve enamel, the grooves for the vitreous colors being channeled in the copper base. On the obverse appears the shield of arms of Peter of Dreux, Duke of Brittany, alternate squares of blue and gold (designating the house of Dreux) quartered with ermines (Brittany). On the reverse, in a shield with a green field, is a cross set with red enamel, and in the background are carved scrolls or vines, probably typifying Christ. Colored enamels were, of course, ideal for showing heraldic arms. In the present instance, however, the enamels no longer retain their brilliant hues or their original high luster. Here and there are small flecks of gold which show that originally the surface was gilded. The enameling was first accomplished and then the mercury gilding, which required less heat than the fusion of the flux. A soft enamel was used, and the atmosphere has caused the surface to decompose. A hard enamel would have been more susceptible to chipping during the cooling process which followed the gilding.

A Dreux seal plate in the Musée Dobrée, which Grancsay noted to have some enameled pommels as well. Unfortunately I haven't found those images in the digital collection.
http://static.loire-atlantique.fr/collections...63.2.1.jpg


So is this "soft enamel" mentioned by the Met article effectively paint and not fired enamel?

https://www.academia.edu/8267728/Sword_and_Dagger_Pommels_Associated_with_the_Crusades


Two articles with pictures and technical analysis of Crusader-era enameled pommels. It seems these are true champlevé enamel, rather than paint, but fails to answer how enamel can be applied to both sides of the pommel without it running during firing.

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Mart Shearer wrote

Quote:

Two articles with pictures and technical analysis of Crusader-era enameled pommels. It seems these are true champlevé enamel, rather than paint, but fails to answer how enamel can be applied to both sides of the pommel without it running during firing.

The enamel powder is mixed with water and gum tragacanth into a paste and is then applied to the piece like a paint. The piece is fired and as long as the enamel is think enough and you don't fire for too long it won't slump. Large thick areas of solid colour are obviously much harder than thin lines set into fields for example.

Tod