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Lot Essay
While Mamluk armour appears on the market on a regular basis, Mamluk weapons are considerably rarer, and among them axes even more so. The present hafted weapon, a combination of an axe and a mace, appears to be unique.
The even overall decoration, leaving the blade edge undecorated, is typical of Mamluk axes. The roundel in the centre of the blade sometimes contains a blazon, such as a particularly fine example in the Rüstkammer in Dresden,[1] but frequently is there but, as here, filled with similar decoration to the main area.[2] The silver outline of the roundel has blackened so as to be almost invisible against the now-dark steel. Similar silver outlining is seen in a second axe in Dresden[3] which was also exhibited with the present unique weapon, in the extraordinary landmark exhibition in Munich in 1910.
The even overall decoration, leaving the blade edge undecorated, is typical of Mamluk axes. The roundel in the centre of the blade sometimes contains a blazon, such as a particularly fine example in the Rüstkammer in Dresden,[1] but frequently is there but, as here, filled with similar decoration to the main area.[2] The silver outline of the roundel has blackened so as to be almost invisible against the now-dark steel. Similar silver outlining is seen in a second axe in Dresden[3] which was also exhibited with the present unique weapon, in the extraordinary landmark exhibition in Munich in 1910.