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Alex K
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 Posted: Fri 13 Apr, 2007 1:27 pm Post subject: Armoury Chamber of the Russian Tsars |
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This is a really great catalogue of 16th/17th century Islamic-influenced arms and armour, and the stuff I'll be posting is just a small selection of what's in it. 
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Alex K
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Alex K
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Alex K
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Alex K
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Alex K
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Alex K
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Alex K
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Alex K
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Alex K
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Alex K
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Alex K
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| Posted: Fri 13 Apr, 2007 1:37 pm Post subject: |
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1618 Russian sabre
http://i12.tinypic.com/49k99xk.jpg
http://i12.tinypic.com/308ksar.jpg
Extra info on it (and an example of the kind of info you get for each item):
| Quote: | SABRE AND SCABBARD WITH BELT OF TSAR MICHAEL FEDOROVITCH
Russia, Moscow, the Armoury Chamber, 1618.
Craftsman Ilya Prosvit.
Both sides of the narrow grooves bear a Russian inscription written with Latin characters: SY TESAKS ISCELAN POWELENIEM GOSSUDRA IWELIKOEO KNIESA MICHAILA FEDOROWITCHA VSEA RRUYSI V PATOIE LEETO GOSWDARSTVA EVO MASETZA M // POPRIKASY KRAITSHEBO Y ORUSCHNITSIHEVO MIHAIILA MICHAILOWITSCHA SALTIKOVA DELAL MAESTER ILIAII PROSWITS.
The inscription indicates that the sabre was manufactured by the craftsman Ilya Prosvit in the fifth year of Michael Fedorovitch's rule, or in 1618, at the Armoury Office of the Moscow Kremlin (as the Tsar's Armoury Chamber was referred to in the early 17th century). The inscription is also the only proof that the word "oruzhnitchy", "head of the Armoury" was still in use in the 1610-1630's denoting the head of the Department (after oruzhnitchy Bogdan Belsky died in 1610, this position was not mentioned in official palace documents till the mid-1640's).
We have no information concerning the tsar Michael Fedorovitch's having ever used this sabre. However, during the Polish campaign of 1654-1656, it was included into the field armoury of the tsar Alexey Mikhaylovitch.
Damask steel, silver, wood, velvet, band, cords.
Forging, carving, damascening in gold and silver, gilding.
Total length: 106.0 cm;
blade length: 93.0 cm. |
| Quote: | | No preserved documents of the Armoury Office mention the name of craftsman Ilya Prosvit. One can assume that the sabre was specially commissioned from an armourer staying in Moscow for a short time. The very name of Prosvit hints at the craftsman's Western Ukrainian origin where the ciity of Lvov was the major centre of cold steel manufacture. The weapon made there was well-known not only in Rzecz Pospolita (Poland), but also all over Eastern Europe. |
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Alex K
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This is a standard topic
