1783 print depicting ancient weapons of England -- myArmoury.com

Jonathan Hopkins

I have had a plate from Barnard's New Complete & Authentic HISTORY of ENGLAND in my collection for around 10 years. It was published in 1783. It is an interesting interpretation--an 18th century interpretation-- of weapons and "implements" of early Britain. I thought you all might enjoy this fanciful print! Please comment!

Steve Maly · Posted: Mon 16 Oct, 2006 6:30 pm Post subject:

Now, if they had a Lance with a Star AND a bell, they'd be onto something.... Eek!

Jonathan Hopkins · Posted: Mon 16 Oct, 2006 6:33 pm Post subject:

Right! A spear on its own is not so scary, but add a bell and whoa! Get me outta there!

Nathan Robinson · myArmoury Admin

Wow. That's an absolutely excellent plate. I love historical artwork, especially diagrams, woodcuts, and illustrations. Thank you for sharing this.

Hugo Voisine · Posted: Mon 16 Oct, 2006 6:44 pm Post subject:

I like that furry shield... Happy

It the shield based on any actual finds (since its writen "an exact representation of a curious collection...") or was the artist just being... artistic ?

Jonathan Hopkins · Posted: Mon 16 Oct, 2006 6:45 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Nathan. It is a really neat plate that I really enjoy. It is fanciful and silly, but it really demonstartes how people impose the aesthetics and ideals from their time onto other time periods. Although it is not perfectly accurate, I have seen a similar illustration in an Osprey title. I think it might be Arthur and the Anglo-Saxon Wars in one of the Angus McBride plates--there is a charioteer and warrior with a shield and spear held in a similar manner. To be fair, Angus McBride's plate is probably more representative of what the warriors actually looked like!

Edit: Or maybe it was in Tim Newark's Celtic Warriors--I can't remember.

Richard Fay · Posted: Mon 16 Oct, 2006 6:47 pm Post subject:

Hello all!

Great artwork! Lovely, but weird! Happy

Is that shield furry? I've heard of hide-covered shields, but that's too much! Big Grin

And what's with the bear skin loin cloth? I though we all knew the ancient Britons went to war naked! Laughing Out Loud

Seriously, though, the detail on the artwork is wonderful, even if it is fanciful!

Stay safe!

Jonathan Hopkins · Posted: Mon 16 Oct, 2006 6:53 pm Post subject:

Merv Cannon · Posted: Tue 17 Oct, 2006 7:15 pm Post subject: Print

Yes, Thanks J.G. ....a most cool print.........I too have a thing for old prints. I see that by this stage the horses actually look more like "real" horses.......... I get a lot of laughs out of some Medieval Art ... cause have you ever noticed that in most of the illustrations all the horses look happy......in fact they always seem to be looking at the camera...er, I mean Ärtist and always have this big grin on their faces....even when they have half a dozen arrows sticking out of their rumps !
Ahhhh, they just dont seem make horses like that these days !!

Cheers

Alexander Hinman · Posted: Wed 18 Oct, 2006 3:39 am Post subject:

This is great! One nuance I particularly enjoy is the signficant difference in the charioteer's clothing from the briton riding it.

Obviously, despite being well versed in the use of bells, stars, and unnecessary chains, the ancient Briton was unable to attach whistles to his spear and frighten the enemy further. Laughing Out Loud