Brazilian Converted Swords
Feb 1, 2023 7:59:10 GMT
Post by Jonathas Nunes on Feb 1, 2023 7:59:10 GMT
Hello guys,
Today I came to talk about the first swords of the republic of Brazil. And these swords were not really republican swords, but converted imperial swords. This is a well-known phenomenon among Brazilian collectors and I believe it is something very peculiar to our history. I imagine that this must have happened in other countries that also made this transition, but I never saw much discussion on this topic.
Some of the models presented here are mine and others are from the important facebook page "Espadas e Laminas Brasileiras" (Brazilian swords and blades). As I have done before, I will provide the necessary historical context to understand why these items are the way they are.
After the republican coup of 1889 the current swords used by infantry, officers and all forces obviously would not be discarded and replaced by new swords at the same time, but there was a transition time that would take a few years for the new republican models to be established and widely adopted.
So, during this transition period, so-called "conversions" were made. Which basically are an interim solution to create republican swords or to simply show your distaste for empire and assert your republican convictions. And we can separate the conversions into categories. Some types have already been established previously by some Brazilian collectors. I will specify each category by talking about and showing the images.
1) Obliteration/Removal - In this category are the swords and sabers that had the imperial symbols erased or simply completely removed. Thus, the Emperor's "PII" symbols or the imperial crown or even the coat of arms were removed or sanded. In some curious cases, this removal only happens on the guard and the same marks are left intact on the blade.
2) Adaptation/Substitution - In this category, the imperial crown or coat of arms is adapted to a republican model. As at that time there was still no official coat of arms of the republic, the symbol of the republic is basically limited to a generic republican star. And with the conversion, what happened is that the imperial crown or imperial symbols are transformed into republican stars. Most of the time, this change was done beautifully. But there are some bad examples.
3) Overlap - Basically, in this category the imperial symbols were partially or completely overlapped. They could be partially overlapped in the case of a star being superimposed on a crown or the newly created republican coat of arms being superimposed on the imperial coat of arms. There are also cases where the imperial symbol was completely removed and then the republican coat of arms was added.
Soon I will return to make a post about the official swords of the Brazilian Republic.
Today I came to talk about the first swords of the republic of Brazil. And these swords were not really republican swords, but converted imperial swords. This is a well-known phenomenon among Brazilian collectors and I believe it is something very peculiar to our history. I imagine that this must have happened in other countries that also made this transition, but I never saw much discussion on this topic.
Some of the models presented here are mine and others are from the important facebook page "Espadas e Laminas Brasileiras" (Brazilian swords and blades). As I have done before, I will provide the necessary historical context to understand why these items are the way they are.
After the republican coup of 1889 the current swords used by infantry, officers and all forces obviously would not be discarded and replaced by new swords at the same time, but there was a transition time that would take a few years for the new republican models to be established and widely adopted.
So, during this transition period, so-called "conversions" were made. Which basically are an interim solution to create republican swords or to simply show your distaste for empire and assert your republican convictions. And we can separate the conversions into categories. Some types have already been established previously by some Brazilian collectors. I will specify each category by talking about and showing the images.
1) Obliteration/Removal - In this category are the swords and sabers that had the imperial symbols erased or simply completely removed. Thus, the Emperor's "PII" symbols or the imperial crown or even the coat of arms were removed or sanded. In some curious cases, this removal only happens on the guard and the same marks are left intact on the blade.
2) Adaptation/Substitution - In this category, the imperial crown or coat of arms is adapted to a republican model. As at that time there was still no official coat of arms of the republic, the symbol of the republic is basically limited to a generic republican star. And with the conversion, what happened is that the imperial crown or imperial symbols are transformed into republican stars. Most of the time, this change was done beautifully. But there are some bad examples.
3) Overlap - Basically, in this category the imperial symbols were partially or completely overlapped. They could be partially overlapped in the case of a star being superimposed on a crown or the newly created republican coat of arms being superimposed on the imperial coat of arms. There are also cases where the imperial symbol was completely removed and then the republican coat of arms was added.
Soon I will return to make a post about the official swords of the Brazilian Republic.
Attachments:
