I'm getting ready to commission a sword for my birthday next year (hopefully sooner, depends on the wife). I'm looking at doing a Bohemian man at arms/knight from ~1330. How would he have decorated the pommel for his sword? I know that a cross engraved or etched in is a safe bet, but what type of cross? What else might he have put on it? A personal device, like a simplified bit of heraldry? What about the device of his lord or whatnot, like the standing lion on the coat of arms of Bohemia? I know that's Wikipedia, but whatever, it should work for this. Or the Přemyslid coat of arms, since they were the Dukes and Kings during that time?

Thanks,
Adam

Man, I suck at talking over the internet. :( I meant that the cross was a safe bet. I don't know the first thing about how they put it there. I guess I do now. Engraved and inlaid then huh? Inlaid with what? Maybe I should recheck the features about that................

Anyhow, that issue aside, what would be engraved and inlaid in the pommel? I've searched around this site and several other forums, and tried to work with Google, but to no avail. Nearly all the pommels I've found were plain. A few had crosses, and the very few remaining were crazy decorated parade type pieces. I don't want a plain pommel, but I'm not sold on a cross just yet, so I'm fishing for more ideas.

Basically any heraldic device could be engraved, inlaid or enameled on the pommel, probably accompanied by gothic scroll-work or other decoration on pommel and cross.

Simple devices work best, obviously, as they are easiest to make and better to recognize even when small. For instance, the sword of Edward III of England (http://www.myArmoury.com/review_aa_edwardiii.html) has a rather complex coat of arms, where the sword of Frederick II of Germany just has the "plain" Imperial eagle, which also appears in slightly different shape on the scabbard (see attachment).

On the other hand, another sword called "sword of St. George" (see other attachment), has the rather unusual image of a butterfly...

So, any "normal" heraldic device (including crosses) you fancy may be placed on a pommel, but devices not normally found in heraldry may apparently be historical as well. :) As far as I know, heraldry on swords is by no means limited to royalty, but may be applied on swords by anyone normally entitled to arms, including cities and other civic bodies.

Instead of heraldry, geometric designs are possible as well. I know of examples in the Gothic as well as in the Moorish Mudéjar style like the sword of Sancho IV of Castille.

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Check out this thread, too: http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=10277 .

Hi,
in 1330 in Bohemia Kingdom ruled the Luxembourgs (Jan Luxembourg), so symbolism can be based on French and German fashion (various types of crosses, imperial eagle, etc...), rather simple decoration, gilded engraving, etc... I think you could do well with family coat of arms (check this: http://heraldikus.wz.cz/roderb/l/lucemburk1.htm just to see the pics).
M.

I've attached the caption. To be honest, I have no idea what book this came from...

The pommel is apparently a replacement from around 1335. Too bad... I wonder what is exactly known of the original...

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Thanks Paul, that is great info and a good starting point for further research! Not at all uncommon that these sort of objects have been modified here and there throughout the time..