Knives and Scabbards: Medieval Finds from Excavations in London

by Cowgill, J.; De Neergaard, M.; Griffiths, Nick; Neergaard, Margrethe De; Grew, Francis; Museum of London

• ISBN13: 9780851158051
• ISBN10: 0851158056
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-04-01
• Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Inc

Summary

Knives were vital to medieval man for a whole range of uses, from the domestic to the wider social context: Anglo-Saxon pre-Christian burials bear silent witness to this dependence in the many cases where knives are found among the grave-goods. Forged and hafted with great skill, sometimes with elaborately decorated scabbards, knives are of intrinsic fascination, besides being indicators of the popular artistic tastes of the time.This book catalogues, discusses and illustrates over five hundred knives, scabbards, shears and scissors dating from the mid-12th to the mid-15th centuries and found in the City of London, particularly along the waterfront sites, where recovered items can be accurately dated by dendrochronology and coin finds. It is a fundamental work of reference for medieval artefacts and material culture, an essential handbook for excavators all over Britain and much of Europe.JANE COWGILL, MARGRETHE DE NEERGAARDE and NICK GRIFFITHS are former members of the staff of the Museum of London.First edition published in HMSO's 'Medieval Finds from Excavations in London'.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	vi
Foreword	vii
Introduction to the second edition	ix
Introduction	xi
Dating	1	(7)
Manufacturing techniques	8	(32)
The Knives, Shears, Scissors and Folding Knives	8	(24)
Blades	8	(1)
Forging	8	(7)
Decoration	15	(2)
Marks	17	(8)
Knife handles	25	(7)
Documentary Evidence	32	(2)
Scabbards	34	(6)
The decoration of medieval scabbards	40	(5)
A note on the heraldic decoration of the scabbards	45	(6)
The Ordinary	45	(2)
Discussion	47	(3)
The Rolls of Arms Consulted	50	(1)
The use of knives, shears, scissors and scabbards	51	(11)
Appendix: Metallographic examination of the medieval knives and shears	62	(13)
Method of Examination	63	(12)
Bibliography	75	(3)
The Catalogue	78	(91)
Addenda	169