Humphrey de Bohuns' sword and shield -- myArmoury.com

Leo Todeschini · Industry Professional

Early this year Toby Capwell approached me to make a sword, scabbard and shield 'for' Humphrey de Bohun for the then upcoming Bannockburn exhibition funded by Historic Scotland. This was of course a fascinating project for me and one I was very pleased to be able to undertake.

The project started with Toby supplying a series of effigies from which we selected elements for the pieces and of course dealt with budget restraints.

The sword furniture was closely based on a piece from the Wallace, though the blade is simpler in form. The pommel has a series of enamelled lines in red and blue, but the most striking aspect is the cord bound grip. I had wanted to try this type of decoration for a while and this seemed like the perfect opportunity and so I use the blue and gold of de Bohuns' colours and made a suitably garish grip.

The scabbard again was closely based on an existing effigy with a couple of elements from other contemporary pieces and again was dyed and painted to be suitably garish for the period - it was important to be noticed. I then went on to make buckle, strap end and chape to suit. These pieces are now available here http://www.todsstuff.co.uk/todsfoundry/scabbard-fittings.htm

Shields from this period were very heavily curved, more so than I have made before, and so this was covered inside and out in my customary linen and gesso and fully harnessed. Unfortunately I didn't seem to take any pictures of the back. I have made a 3D decorated shield before and this again seemed like a good opportunity to make another and so the bend argent and the lions rampant were raised.

Overall I am pleased with the rather 'showy' and garish nature of the set and hope again to make some pieces that to modern eyes are totally over the top.

I hope you like them.

Tod

Stephen Curtin · Posted: Sun 09 Nov, 2014 3:15 pm Post subject:

You've outdone yourself again Tod. Beautiful work.

Mart Shearer · Posted: Sun 09 Nov, 2014 4:22 pm Post subject:

Doesn't look garish at all to me. I would have even liked to see enameling on the flats of the pommel. Laughing Out Loud

Beautiful work, as usual, Tod.

Jerry Monaghan · Posted: Sun 09 Nov, 2014 4:57 pm Post subject:

Hi Leo
That looks amazing I think that set up is fit for an King and I would also love to have it thanks for the eye candy.

Boris Bedrosov · Industry Professional

Brrrrrr, outstanding!

Brilliant work, as usual, especially on the scabbard!

Ian Hutchison · Posted: Sun 09 Nov, 2014 5:16 pm Post subject:

Tod,

That scabbard is a real work of art, a masterpiece. The raised embellishments on the shield are also very interesting, along with the red of the claws and tongue, they really make the lions 'pop'.

Kai Lawson · Posted: Sun 09 Nov, 2014 5:17 pm Post subject:

I'm surprised there is no inlay/plating on the blade…

Fantastic piece--the grip and belt really look marvelous, as do the gesso lions. Bravo!

J. Hargis · Posted: Sun 09 Nov, 2014 8:53 pm Post subject:

Garish indeed. Sorry, I don't care for this at all. Looks like a kit made for Liberace.
Thanks for showing it though.

Jon

Tim Lison · Posted: Sun 09 Nov, 2014 10:40 pm Post subject:

Absolutely spot on!!!! Really good work as always from Tod. I love how colorful it is. It really captures the era for me. Just plain terrific!

J. Nicolaysen · Posted: Mon 10 Nov, 2014 8:36 am Post subject:

Wonderful work. I don't think Garish is the best term. Thanks for expanding our views of what nicely decorated shields and weapons from the time period may have looked like! There's a very happy customer I'm sure.

Mart Shearer · Posted: Mon 10 Nov, 2014 9:41 am Post subject:

Leo,

Since we're discussing the topic of these painted or enameled pommels in another thread, I was wondering what material you used to put the enameled lines around the pommel? The Met article by Grancsay says the Peter of Dreux pommel uses "soft enamel", which I understand to be air-dried and unfired.

http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t...highlight=

And please share the technique you used for wrapping the grip. I know you take justly some pride in that also.

Leo Todeschini · Industry Professional

Thanks very much guys.

Mart Shearer wrote

Matthew G.M. Korenkiewicz · Posted: Mon 10 Nov, 2014 1:32 pm Post subject:

Though I too find it a bit much for my own tastes, LT, I couldn't help but take notice and
comment how colorful and beautiful, and of course how well executed the pieces are.

Briefly makes me wonder if you get requests for excellently made, but extra-rugged
looking, and primatively functional works ... like something a more common soldier
might have ...

In any event, I do enjoy seeing the consistant quality of your work ! B-)

Julian Reynolds · Posted: Mon 10 Nov, 2014 2:38 pm Post subject:

Beautiful work....the perfect antidote to the modern view that 'historical' means 'mud-coloured', which seems to suit the modern aesthetic but bears no relation to anything other than the faded, tarnished and oxidised remains we have sitting in museums...

If you were a knight, you would be surrounded by colour, and it would have been bright and vivid, just like this.....

Julian

Ian Hutchison · Posted: Mon 10 Nov, 2014 6:09 pm Post subject:

Leo Todeschini · Industry Professional

I wholly agree about medieval life being surrounded by vibrant colour - money allowing, but even poor people could afford very vivid shades of certain colours as they were cheap, but others remained expensive and elusive, even for the rich.

Matthew G M Korenkiewicz wrote

J. Hargis · Posted: Tue 11 Nov, 2014 9:17 am Post subject:

Ian Hutchinson said:

Jeremy V. Krause · Posted: Tue 11 Nov, 2014 12:59 pm Post subject:

I think I will call the scabbard "garish" but in the most complementary way! Happy

For me- the grip is the best part. We see a few extant grips and some do feature the remains of some outlandish decoration. I believe there is one with yellow and green cording- another described as "pick"- but I believe this is a faded red.

A question Tod. How durable is the decor on the scabbard? I am especially asking about the gold work. And do you believe your methods would be more or less durable than period examples- assuming your processes are a bit different in terms of materials.

J. Nicolaysen · Posted: Tue 11 Nov, 2014 2:25 pm Post subject:

It was kind of an unexplained compliment. The set is also spectacular, ostentatious, and extravagant. The quality is outstanding and for me, garish implies flash over quality. I'd have used a different word myself for this work of art. Who cares, the connotations of a descriptor aren't really the point here.

Wonderful work Tod! I also really like the raised lions and many other things people have said already.

Mart Shearer · Posted: Tue 11 Nov, 2014 5:37 pm Post subject:

I can easily think of a few more things which could be added with funding. Diapering the white of the bend on the shield, perhaps with some silver vine-work? Adding an enameled escutcheon with the arms of de Bohun onto the flat of the pommel. Adding an inlayed inscription into the blade has been mentioned, and gilding the hilt components always adds to the bling factor. Any or all of which Leo could accomplish, given de Bohun's backing instead of Dr. Capwell's. Wink