The 600-Year-Old Sword Found in Texas | Christie's
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- Опубліковано 11 лип 2016
- ‘I was stunned when the pieces started falling into place,’ recalls specialist Howard Dixon of the moment an unassuming folio of photographs was presented to him in a restaurant in Texas earlier this year.
On the seventh page, a small photograph showed a medieval Italian broadsword - a piece which bore a striking resemblance to another that had been mysteriously missing since the 1940s. Until that moment, says Dixon, ‘no one knew where it had gone, and the trail had gone cold.’
In this video, Dixon reveals how a ‘twin’ sword in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art helped trace the Harriet Dean sword’s history back to 15th century Cyprus - describing what it felt like to make ‘a once in a lifetime discovery.’
Read more at www.christies.com/features/Dis...
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Thanks for all of your questions about gloves.
I spoke to Howard Dixon to find out more, and he explained that where possible specialists avoid wearing gloves to reduce the risk of an object slipping out of their grip!
In this case the sword is handled in a temperature-controlled room, with clean hands, and wiped down immediately after handling, so the risk of corrosion damage is minimal.
Ok, thanks for the info. I am a nihonto collector myself and we do not use gloves but we also don't touch the blade with our bare hands, just the nakago. Good to hear all precautions were taken where appropriate with such a important historical blade.
roger Rumble im sure it has enough patina at this point its a null point and if anything oils preserve and resist corrosion
Christie's es una empresa del grupo de pintura y decoración de interiores
Agreed. It's a piece of metal. Probably could have done with a spot of oil a few centuries ago.
Plus........I WANT TO FEEL IT'S MOJO ON/IN MY HANDS!! JUST AWESOME 👍😁👌
The inscription reads in translation: "Donation of al-Mālik al Mu`ayyad Abū al-Nasr Shaykh to the armory in the frontier city of Alexandria [in the] year 822
Thank you very much for the interpretation! 🌷
Excalibur
هذا السيف صنع في مدينة الاسكندرية المصرية
يعني اصله عربي
And they are trying to pawn it off as Italian…
@@MrRusdawg typical white man move 🤦♀️
Imagine how many people that sword went through
Like physically as in it went through peoples bodys or passed down through peoples hands over time
@@implausibleimpossiblehypot4006
Pretty sure he means physically cut down in battle. Odds are probably zero since it was a diplomatic gift to commemorate the signing of a peace treaty.
@@DarkMatterX1 well that would be quite ironic if a peace treaty sword killed anyone
most survivong old weapons are decorative or ritualistic
@@DarkMatterX1 we will never know.
Rick from Pawn Stars: FFFfffff best I can do is $20
Don't forget he needs to frame it as well.
😆😂🤣
And I’m taking a huge risk at that
I just saw a video that a similar sword covered with shells and rocks was just found by a diver off Haifa in Israel. He was just out for a swim. They say it is medieval. This is pretty amazing as well.
I couldn't wait until it is cleaned and shown to the public.
@@joselimjoco3367 they said it was in perfect condition so it will be something to behold once it is cleaned off
@Armpitjam 4 how do you know this? A sword would have to be pretty sturdy to use in battle, I bet it would survive underwater untouched
@Armpitjam 4 swords made for knights, especially the ones going on crusade, would've been mostly finely made. swords are also not just a status symbol, and you would often transition to your sword once your lance broke/you were chasing down enemies/got into a melee with enemy cavalry. The 12th/13th centuries weren't the same as the 14th and 15th centuries. And even then, swords were constantly used, especially against peasants who revolted, and when your pollax was rendered unusable (such as being grabbed, broken, etc). Weapons were expected to be used, and thus were used. Men at Arms brought their own weapons, why would they bring a crudely built, unbalanced sword?
Pawn Stars: I’m going to take a huge risk here and offer you $200. I can’t believe I’m even doing this.
Yep - you know you are going to get short changed ( ripped off ) at a pawn shop. It's their business model. And the person who buys it will overpay to the max.
I can read arabic, so the name written on the sword in arabic actually denotes that this sword belonged to a man named Abu Al ma'e, a traditional arabic name
@John Vaughan Forde I'm telling ya man...I know how to read and write arabic...it's the name that I mentioned..what needs to be researched is that who that guy was, if you ask me, probably a high ranking military officer in mamluk ranks, that's why the sword's all shiny and decorated with all that beautiful calligraphy
Doesn't Abu mean father?
@@DarkMatterX1 that would be his oldest son the name infront of abu
@@Farhan_in_Delhi the sword was gifted to him by the cyprus king then he donated it to the museium of alexandria
The sword was probably given away by some watery tart in an aquatic ceremony. 😂
Thats no basis for a system of government.
I’ll take the tart
😂
DamnIt!
Was thinking this exact thing… Scrolled down a few comments and there it was…
Missed it by > < that much…
😈
man, last time i saw my sword was just over 600 years ago when i stuck it in a rock! never thought i'd see the day!
Not allowed in England as the blade is fixed and more than 3 inches long. It could hurt someone.
BIN IT!
Yes, let's be very afraid. lol
it's an antique so its allowed
don't forget to press 2 for spanish
I own a modern recreation of this blade by albion. It certainly is a wonderful and well attuned design, love it.
If he bought it in 1919, why do you make it sound like it had been laying in texas for 600 years
You’re literally the only person who thought that. You’re just an idiot, the 600 years old thing is obviously in reference to the age of the object.
this
...
I love when things like this happen. Makes the world seem like a magical place.
Happy u got off
Fascinating. I'd love to see that whole museum.
@christies Could you tell us the name of the musical composition and artist used in this video?
What is the translation of the inscription?
So how much did it sell for?
Heck yea man...i love seeing lost artifacts found
I own a Principe Alexandria replica of this sword type but with a fishtail pommel same crossguard, beautiful sword, the dimensions are divine. A real piece of art and it cuts through tatami like butter, if these were ever used by crusaders or turks on the battlefield they would have been a force to be reckoned with.
The craftsmanship is extraordinary beautiful sword
Absolutely beautiful blade!
I would take it to Pawn Stars pawn shop and see what Chumley would give me for it.
I wonder what the check amount was to buy that.
The reverence in which is man is talking about this sword is bringing me to tears
it's called hype
Not sure that In the 15th century Cyprus had a king? Might it be from when the Venicians ruled Cyprus? Théy called it an Italian sword. The Arabic script likely added when it was in the hands of the ottomans who ruled Cyprus after the venicians.
Cyprus had kings for most of the 15th century. The Venetians didn't take over until 1489. You can find that out with a basic Google search. Here's Wikipedia:
The Kingdom of Cyprus (French: Royaume de Chypre, Latin: Regnum Cypri) existed between 1192 and 1489. It was ruled by the French House of Lusignan.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Cyprus
Maybe you're making the common mistake of confusing the 15th century with the 1500's? The 15th century is the 1400's. It seems like an odd convention, but does make sense when you think about it logically- the people living in the 'first century' were those living from 0-100. The 'second century' was from 100-200 and so on.
Northern Italy was one of the major areas for arms and armour manufacture in medieval Europe, and Italian weapons were found all around Europe. A king looking to give a sword as a diplomatic gift would need it to be high quality, and so would obviously seek to get something made by the very best craftsmen. That's why a Cypriot king would give an Italian sword as a gift, rather than a locally produced one.
@@chrisball3778 OK but is it really a Cypriot king? It was a French house that ruled, before that it was Richard and the templars. Perhaps it semantics Im struggling with but when a succession of European powers pass your country around and in the end some Frenchie decides he’s ruling over his “kingdom” and voila...king of Cyprus?
@@miklmiklmtrcycl6009 is not "some frenchie decides he is the king" because that frenchie had to overthrow who ruled before him,so his role cames from his power,not from the sentence "ohh i am the king now"
I thought they meant found, like found in a cave or an old grave.
well that's what makes a good story. In reality, a good find would be stanched by someone for years. Maybe in a storage from "storage wars" lol ….or an actual resident who kept it in mint condition for years. This is what makes something a great find.
It is amazing when something like this turns up.
Sword'a gives me the chills...
I made a sword similar to this out of heavy truck spring. It took me two months work. It was total 165sm and out of it 40sm handle with spiked tip at the end. 23 years ago. You didn't have to cut with it. It was that heavy. Inspired by William Wallace's sword I saw in Scotland.
I made it while working abroad, so there was no chance taking it through airport. It just wouldn't go for a souvenir. So I drove it deep into the ground, as hard as I could and left. I must say it is a whole different feeling to hold it and swing it. Some men will understand what this is. Crazy... like I am.
Anar Meherremov Where is this said sword buried? If I ever come across your blade I will return it to you. I wish to someday forge a similar weapon from a spring. I was told it makes good sword steel.
@@highlander918 well, if that was 20 years ago, then either someone found it, or you won't have much to return.
@@szepi79 You’d be surprised how long a single piece of good steel can last… if that sword still lies within the earth, there’s nothing a bit of reforging can’t fix.
@@highlander918 you are correct, I would be surprised :D
Here is my question. Are those the original materials for the grip? The original wood scales and leather wrap?
I myself don't think so. Pin and scale construction was the hallmark of Messer construction, but that was due to limitations on who could produce swords, mandated by the Guilds. Changing the handle construction allowed them to bypass guild regulations by selling them as "large knives".
Never, not even once have I seen a longsword with the grip construction of a Messer.
I have a suspicion this is not in it's original state, and X-rays and carbon dating of the wood would prove that.
it's all theoretical for now though.
If that sword is 600 years old, why are they handling it without gloves.
In the past few years it's becoming more common to handle antiques without gloves. The reason behind the change is gloves suppress fingers' sensitivity, thus increasing risk of accidently damaging a handled artifact. Don't worry, everyone washes off the skin oil and dirt before holding the objects.
It's a sword, not a brittle manuscript.
yolo
@@MrJeffcoley1 Swords need love too...
They probably just thought it was just a really cool replica.
I got a few of those in the garage, my kids fight each other with them. Its getting harder for them now, as they only have one arm each.
Tis but a scratch, they can still bite
They’ll grow back eventually…
Strange and beautiful things are dispersed throughout the world! In my tiny Texas bungalow, I carefully keep a pouch of the Queen's Maundy money (presented at Chelmsford Cathedral 1963), one of FDR's embroidered tablecloths and a costume worn on Lucille Ball's Super Comedy Bowl (1971) by John Wayne. They will eventually end up with someone who will again treasure them...
I have A shawl owned by Abraham Lincoln's wife. I was given it by my mother, who was given it by a 102 year old friend. I'm told it was sold when Mary left the white house. I have no idea if this is provable or not.
Diplomatic Gift From 1400s, tracked and lost and found again
a famous relic sought by many over centuries
it is like a real life " Maltese Falcon"
So, what does the inscription say?
Right? Sort of an obvious query that should've been assumed & answered in the making of this video.
"Donation of al-Mālik al Mu`ayyad Abū al-Nasr Shaykh to the armory in the frontier city of Alexandria [in the] year 822 [A.D. 1419]." to be exact.
(this was written by another commenter on a similar question here)
Thx. @@alexamerri2
Looks like a Spanish or Portuguese sword . Apparently the engraving is in Arabic dated 8th century Alexandria. Someone took it back to North Africa and engraved it in Arabic. Because that's clearly a European sword. Moorish and Arab swords don't look like th😢at.
I have several old artifacts that have given me immense pleasure over the years. I have no doubt that my offspring will unceremoniously sell them off to the highest bidder after I die, because none of them have any interest in history or anything historical! Heck, they're not even sentimental about possessions like I am! I am the depository and caretaker of my family's various artifacts and heirlooms (pictures, negatives, old 8mm movie reels, keepsakes, souvenirs) and I'm expected to document, digitize and catalogue them all. So, if I didn't do it then it would never get done!
i am so mad over trust financial issues i am tempted to throw family painting s in the trash and i am nearly 70. laywers always say final arrangements cause problems when most say we are a good family. typical is when a fam member gives up a job and or takes care of an older parent and siblings squabble... ben franklin said you never know a person UNTIL you divide an inheritance.... my brother is literally skimming money from his own mother...
Do you want a cookie?
@@theoneandonlybumpus2862 what is wrong with you? You are one of the massive morons that would sell the artifacts for whatever you could get, aren't you? Better yet, y’all would be the arse that was skimming from the mother?
The symmetry, pommel and handle work, definitely a master swordsmith
Is is forged from Toledo steel?
Someone probably brought there family sword
What a tale!
People have lost so many skill sets.
Yea , it’s not like anybody makes things like this anymore. Wouldn’t it be great to have a competition every week where knife and sword makers could square off against each other making the same types of armament and let highly skilled judges pick the best to go against each other one on one with a relatively hard task and try that armament against various cutting and strength test.
well probably because america doesn't have any history regarding medieval swords, or REAL blacksmithing for that matter.
with all due respect, The skillset of making swords has, and will never be in the hands of americans, since americans dont have any ancestral history regarding blacksmithing, or in any sort of craft, for that matter.
@@AndreasRibergaard Salty Dane
This clearly looks like a Spanish or Portuguese sword . Apparently the engraving is in Arabic dated 8th century Alexandria. Someone took it back to North Africa and engraved it in Arabic. Because that's clearly a European sword. Moorish and Arab swords don't look like that.
I was thinking that too very nicely made weapon even if it was just a ceremonial gift looks pretty viable to me yikes
نقش على السيف بالعربية: "حبس الملك المؤيد أبو النصر شيخ لقصر السلاح بثغر الإسكندرية سنة ثمانمائة و عشرين و اثنين."
و هو من الهدايا التي أرسلها ملك قبرص لسلطان مصر الملك المؤيد أبو النصر سيف الدين شيخ المحمودي
Terima kasih kawan 👍
Awesome. Thanks.
Beautiful, amazing sword. Why no gloves when handling it?
@@norseman5041 Its about oils on hands and what not. Good lord you are ignorant.
@@theimaginariumnetwork5621I watched antiques roadshow and pawn stars that makes me a expert I am a specialist at being a keyboard warrior
When no one was looking, did you get to swing it around and make lightsaber noises?
A beautiful sword what did it sell for🤔
This is clearly a Spanish or Portuguese sword. Apparently the engraving is in Arabic dated 9th century Alexandria. Someone took it back to North Africa and engraved it in Arabic. Because that's clearly a European sword. Moorish and Arab swords don't look like that.
1:24 the video talks about it
It's most likely a North italian example of an oakeshott type 18c sword. Guard style is very reminiscent of that category of weapons
Watch the video lmao
@@jesushchrist2261correct
After careful examination they found out there's a QR code imbedded into it.
Grabs sword with hands 🤣😂🤣
“Why do you have Randy Jackson's
autograph on a martial-arts weapon?”
“I bumped into him and all I had was this sword...and you're not gonna not get Randy Jackson's autograph.”
I just watched a video of 2000 year old swords, found stashed in a cave, in the desert in the middle east.
Imagine 300 years later that sword was found by the last human and his magical dog
"Adventure Time" reference?
Cmon just chop a few fresh branches for us you know you want to
I find it vary bad form that there is no follow up. And im buggered if im going all through all their blasted files. Bollocks to you sir !
Such inscriptions has often been added to battlefield trophies. European swords were accepted in the Orient for their solid and good constant quality, but nothing special. Byzantine and Indian blades were higly desired.
That would be an awesome discovery.
Older than the states
Very cool!
an awesome handmade weapon
That's good and all but as a wise man once said
"But will it Kiiiilllllllll?"
Keal
i mean even if it was not sharp that could sill kill you
your blade will kill
It's not a proper YT Sword Video until you test how many Soda Bottles it can Cut through
What's written on the sword?
I can't read it but I am sure its arabic language
@@raymoonka that's not arabic that's a Illanaean alphabets. One of the Native American language.
Made in China
There's an interpretation from 4 years ago within these comments by Renshi Nishi. ( Cut and paste does not work on the comments so I cannot share it)
@@raymoonka "Donation of al-Mālik al Mu`ayyad Abū al-Nasr Shaykh to the armory in the frontier city of Alexandria [in the] year [A.H.] 822 [A.D. 1419]."
How did it get to texas ? I mean was it traded or sum
It says in the video that it was a diplomatic gift.
@@marilenakatsarou596 that was its origin but doesn’t explain how it ended up in Texas
@@marilenakatsarou596 It wasn't a diplomatic gift to a Texan, since the events he was talking about in the video were in 1414, 200 years before the Mayflower landed in Massachusetts.
@@aluskn I’m not going to pretend that I understood what you just said but I’m just going to agree because you seem to know a lot more about this that I do😂
@@marilenakatsarou596 I just meant that although this was a diplomatic gift, that was a gift from the people who made the sword to a European country which happened
around 200 years before America was 'born', so the video doesn't really explain how the sword ended up in Texas still!
That's a good sword
I'm not sure I understand why these two are handing the blade with no gloves?
It's lasted this long being handled, a few more hands touching it won't hurt it.
@@bigredc222 I own forged swords and it is never wise to touch the steel with bare hands as the oils from fingertips will cause corrosion if not noticed and wiped off. The sword was obviously handled very little and stored with care. In armor curator videos, all items are handled with gloves on.
Beautiful
Thats amazing 👏
I wonder why the family who had it gave it away.. How does one take ownership of the sword if its already owned..
they bought it?
You take it by force, the way it was meant to
Amazing
Was this sword sold and if it did how much was it sold for?
Jeremy Kirkpatrick LOL
Estimates value was £ 70.00,00 - £ 100.000,00
It was sold for £ 386.500,00
Thank you and a thumbs up
It was sold a Christie's auction for $550,000.00
WTF is that doing in Texas? Imagine how it got there, its story etc... whose hands has it passed through, what has it witnessed - no action it seems!
ok how much was it sold for???????
Museums would not pay you a dime for it, they just take it.
I saw one like it at Goodwill and they only wanted a buck fifty...$150.00
600 years old and is still in good condition.
Here is the transcription of the Arabic text:
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
ابو الفتح الملك الامام السلطان العادل
Translated to English, it reads:
"In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Abu al-Fath, the King, the Imam, the Just Sultan"
This kind of inscription is typically found on historical artifacts, especially those belonging to significant figures in Islamic history.
Why would you touch it with your bare hands. The acid in the oil of your hand will damage the metal
It doesn't
It wont damage the blade if it ia cleaned immediately after, so it is much safer to wear gloves.
Looks exactly like the principe
more like the Alexandria. both are type XVIII c, the differences are the handle and the pommel, and this one's looks like the Alexandria. or... the Alexandria looks like the reproduction of this one.
what about Texas
I mean, cool and call. But, should he be handling that with bare hands?
You can clean and oil the sword after it’s been handled. Otherwise the sword doing its intended purpose (cutting through somebody) would be entirely redundant.
@@highlander918 It's a 600 year old sword. Should he be handling that with his bare hands?
@@ahikernamedgq yes dude, it's steel, it cuts hands like no biggie
ty
I wonder how many lives this blade has taken? 🧐
I'm thinking it was pretty much a ceremonial sword 🗡️
It doesn't look used
Exactly none, it was a diplomatic gift. It was hung on a wall all of its life.
it is not@@Austin8thGenTexan
He’s touching it without gloves?
I sure am 😩
☹️
beautiful
Looks like a Spanish or Portuguese sword . Apparently the engraving is in Arabic dated 8th century Alexandria. Someone took it back to North Africa and engraved it in Arabic. Because that's clearly a European sword. Moorish and Arab swords don't look like th😢at.
Gloves a must to touche
Engraving language and translations?
Arabic
SAY'S Made in China.
Touching carbon steel with your bare fingers. Such experts..
In a restroom?
Wow!
Must be nice....I couldn't find a 600 yr turd😭
What a clever little bit of clickbait that title is...
Perhaps. Alan Wilson on Prince Madoc of Wales arriving in Kentucky ~562AD might interest you. Apparently theres evidence there supporting the claim.
"You know what they say! A sword is the best weapon for humanity"
We used to have mental hospitals for people like you.
Conveniently no history since 1943 given. Naturally in the hands of well known collectors the whole time. You can't have this and talk about it, kind of like forbidden stuff.
We understand the Historical Value, what is the Monetary Value of such a find and who would pay ?
@B B Fuck You Punk !
Thats where my pearing knife went too,yall are just rude
Ok, a 600 year old sword, and you are NOT WEARING GLOVES to protect from your acids in your sweat!
It doesnt hurt it.
came here to say this. I almost screamed at the screen "wear gloves you idiot!". missing something basic like that questions the expertise of the people in the video.
@Alamyst2011: yes it does. old blades must be handled with extra care and doing everything to avoid rusting. touching it with bare hands is a big no no.
@@szepi79 Really? My god. I better stop touching my Roman Gladius. The oils in my hands must be made of something acidic.. Thanks. Woosh
@@Alamyst2011 you are very welcome. :P
@@szepi79 Sarcasm.
So it was a diplomatic gift. A sword that tells a story I suppose.
It's inscribed "live by the sword, die by the sword ",JC?
"Donation of al-Mālik al Mu`ayyad Abū al-Nasr Shaykh to the armory in the frontier city of Alexandria [in the] year [A.H.] 822 [A.D. 1419]."
keep your fingers off the blade. you obviously don't know how to handle a blade.
You obviously don’t know none of that matters with clean hands, and cleaning the blade after handling it. How would you cut through somebody without damaging the steel with your train of thought?
@@highlander918 you have no idea.
What happend to the whatyacallit by the thingamabob Clancy
The last samurai ?
What no it a European sword
Love it