Other gifts available at the Centre include:-
- Collectors historical swords. (Letter openers)
- Collectors historic thimbles.
- Stained glass window art.
(1) Roman short sword (Gladius)
The Gladius was a double-bladed weapon two feet long and two inces wide often with a corrugated bone grip. It was used by Infantry-men for thrusting at short range.
(2) Norman Sword
During the 6th Century Viking Swords began to take the form which lasted until the Middle Ages. They introduced not only the sword with the blade of carbonised iron but also the first four principal parts: (1) The Pommel, a knob at the anterior end; (2) The Grip; (3) The Crossbar or Quillons to protect the hand; and (4) The Blade.
(3) Medieaval Sword
This letter opener is based on mediaeval swords of the 12th to the 14th Centuries. The blades would have been up tp 50 inches/125cm long and would have needed two hands on the leather bound grip to swing the mighty sword. The wheel shaped pommel was typical of the period and the method of use was to strike the adversary with the edge of the blade rather than the point.
(4) Scottish Claymore c.1620
This two-handed sword is the true Scottish Claymore, the great double-edged broadsword used by Scottish Highlanders from the 15th to the early 17th Century. The name is also wrongly applied to the single-edged basket-hilted sword adopted in the 16th Century and still worn as the full-dress sword in the Highland Regiments of the British Army
(5) Renaissance Sword
During the 16th and early 17th Centuries rapiers were in high fashion. These were often used in duels along with a dagger for parrying the opponents blade. This letter opener is based on the rapiers of the Renaissance period and these swords were often highly decorated along the hilt.
(6) Elizabethan Sword
The Sword underwent rapid changes during the first half of the 16th Century. Greater protection was given to the hand by means of a Knuckle bow to which was added wings to guard the whole hand both in the vetical and horizontal planes. From this period onwards swords became increasingly decorative both in the handle and the blade.
If you would like to order one of the Historical swords please fill in our order form.
All the swords meassure 7 inches in weidth appox.
(1) Verulamium Thimble.
Reproduction of a thimble found on the site of the Roman city of verulamium (St.ALBANS) and reproduced by kind permission of the Verulamium Museum where it is on display. The original thimble was cast in bronze with the pounce marks punched in afterwards.
(2) Centurion Helmet.
This highly detailed minature is of a legionary centurion's helmet of the time of the emperor Vespasian. The helmet would have had a crest of horsehair and would have been worn with silvered-scale cuirass (body armour) and decorated greaves to protect his legs.
(3) The Coppergate York Helmet. (c.750-775 AD).
Found in Coppergate, York in 1982 the Helmet found to contain the following inscription in Latin and translated as follows- "In the name of our Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit, God the father and with all we pray. Amen. Oshere. XPI.
(4)Renaissance Thimble
This pewter thimble is reproduced from the Renaissance period and dates from the late 16th Century. The thimble has a fine design and depicts hunting scenes - a popular theme in art of the time.
(5) Tudor Thimble
Thimbles in Tudor times and later became more ornate and personal to the user. Indeed it was quite common for the more expensive thimbles to be engraved either with the initials of the owner or their Coat of Arms. This particular Tudor Thimble has the Tudor Rose on the front aspect and the Tudor Coat of Arms on the reverse.
(6)Victoria and Albert
Queen Victoria ascended the throne in 1837 and married her cousin Prince Albert of Saxe-coburg in 1840. This commemorative Thimble is typical of the Victorian style of that period being large, heavy and ornate.
If you would like to order one of the Historical thimble please fill in our order form.
All the thimbles meassure 1 inch in height approx.
Stained glass effect window art, simply peel off the self clinging vinyl and place onto a clean window.
If you would like to order one of the gifts above please fill in our order form.
