I was disappointed by my recent visit to the V&A because I learned that their amazing arms and armour collection has been put into storage. There are a few pieces scattered throughout the other exhibits. The following images depict the arms that are still on display at the V&A. First up is a nice "Twysden" style basket hilt. (I forgot to take a photo of the information card--sorry!) Please enjoy and discuss!

Jonathan

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Next is a lovely English buff coat c,1640-1650.

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Nice picture. I imagine not many items like that have survived. Gives a good variation to the plain jane ones that are seen often.

That is funny they have arms and armour. When there last I asked a guide and he said they had nothing of that nature except what was out. Very interesting. Do you know of what things they have there hidden away?

RPM

Nice pics, Jonathan !

Always interesting to see other swords of this type !
It's a shame the V&A has packed away so much of its collection, but I suppose not everyone cares for the A&A end of things ?

Attached is your V&A example (on the left) next to the Met's "Twysden" piece.

I got to handle & photograph 2 others of this type, one at the Glasgow Reserve and another in the Burrell collection, and they are quite cool in their silver encrusted detail !

Thanks for sharing, Mac

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Randal, the V&A has a very nice selection of items, more pieces rather than wholes as far as armour goes, but very nice none the less. I have a little book (5"x8" about 50 pages) entitled European Armour, Victoria & Albert Museum, with pictures of 44 different items of armour including sketch books.

I posted a bunch of b&W images of some of the rapiers & small swords in the V&A collection, taken from the little booklet by J.F. Hayward, 1951, in one of my user albums at the following link:
http://www.myArmoury.com/albums/thumbnails.ph...amp;page=3

Mac

Today's image is a nice scabbard from 1498:

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Thanks for the info. I will ask around and see what I can dig up. It is a sad aspect of our time that so much good armour and arms end up as storage material. I was so suprised to see what the BM had in storage. shelves full of swords and many nice boses. I guess in their case they do have alot out though and just do not have the space for more though. The V and A, they have plenty of space for it, just take out the.....



Mac,

It looks like regere to me for the first word of the first line. The next might be a number (60 something?) but I cannot read more than a few letters of it. Regere is the infinitive for to guide or to direct.

RPM

Here is the original image size and a 125% enlargement:

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Hi everyone, Thomas...how you doin ? I ran the image through Photoshop and as far as I can tell, the script says.........

"REGERE SEITSXM. VSI

SVMMA SAPLENGESO "


I am fairly sure that 90% of this is accurate., though the first line is somewhat cryptic.

Cheers !

REGERE SEIPSUM SUMMA SAPIENT(IA). EST

There are a couple of possible traslations and sound like:

May this sword be handled with the gratest wisdom

(or)

May you be driven by the greatest wisdom

Now that makes sense. How on earth can you read that? Man thats good. I spend long days reading old manuscripts in medieval shorthand and could not get it. Good job!

RPM

Thank you, gentlemen, nice work !

I knew our gang here was up to the challenge :-) Slàinte, Mac