Help - Mainz Scabbards - Geometric Punched Designs

[sulla felix]

Help!!!

The New Deepaka Mainz has a punched brass design overlaying a tinned plate. What is this based on and are there any other examples of this type of scabbard?

I am looking for inspiration to improve my Find-It "Fulham" Mainz scabbard so any help much appreciated.

[jvrjenivs]

The design was by Armae, as far as I know.
[url:13kt4xy2]http://www.armae.com/Actualitesetmanuels/Mainz/Mainz.htm[/url]

They don't name their source, unfortunately.

[sulla felix]

Thanks Jurjen - I had seen this but wondered if this was based upon an actual artefact, and whether there were more examples.

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

Barry,

It's the most extended type of gladius scabbard, more exemplars than pompeii ones.

You can see a lot of exemples here:

http://www.roma-victrix.com/armamentari ... smainz.htm

Original are made with a wooden sheath covered by a thin plate of brass tined, frequently only covering the front of the scabbard. Over the plate and covering the borders are two side gutters. In the mouth is a locket and a chape covering the point. Both have a more or less intricate decoration of opus interrasile. (pierced)

That is the original style of Mainz scabbards, probably of celtic influence. Later, the locket and chape are embossed, like the "sword of Tiberius". A third variant is with all the plate embossed, not only the locket and chape. The Fulham scabbard is from that kind.

Another variant is made without the plate covering. Only the side gutters and a locket with a pierced decoration very simple. The "long Windsor" and "Porto Vechhio" swords are the more familar exemples.

[sulla felix]

Ahh...just the job Cesar, thanks!. I was looking in Bishop & Coulston (1st edition)and there really are none of this type shown. Do you know of any detailed drawings in reports or journals that I could use?

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

In Bishop Coulston there is that type showed. Look better!! :lol:

The second edition:

http://romancoins.info/sword-sheath-1st-mcb.gif

There is number 2 .

Number 3 is the type with embossed chape and locket.

Number 4 is the type with all the plate embossed.

For the bibliography, there is tons of them. I'll look for them later, now i'm away from home.

[sulla felix]

I must get the second edition :lol:

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

I have a question, too. Anybody knows of a plate made of tined iron instead tined brass/bronze/copper?

Thanks!

[brennivs - tony drake]

Lvcivs try 5L oil cans they are tinned on the inside
Regards Brennivs

[Robert]

Salve guys! Were the gutters tinned as well or was that plain yellow brass??

[brennivs - tony drake]

Robert I have had a quick look and I can not see any that look tinned. It could be an art thing as the plain edgeing frames the picture and throws it out so it is more noticeable.
Regards Brennivs

[Robert]

Hmm, had a good look at the pictures and they do not really show the material well. Some look to be iron, others ..... :?: Where these gutters of brass, bronze or iron, untinned, as far as anyone knows?

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

Brennius!

Thanks! I am thinking in real ones! :lol: For the tined iron, i have thought in use some big paint cans.

Robert.

The gutters are, commonly, of brass/bronze untinned, as the chapes and lockets. A lot of swords have lost them (the gutters), because is a very exposed part.