Lot 160
Latin America, Mexico, Spanish Colonial Period, late 18th century CE. This is a Mexican espada ancha, or "wide sword", carried by the soldados de cuera, leather-armored soldiers who guarded the extreme northern territories of New World Spain. Those interested in Southwestern USA history should be especially interested in this piece! During this time period, Spain was one of the great world powers, with a naval and trade empire spanning from the East Indies, encompassing vast territory in the New World, and extending back to Europe. New Spain, which today is northern Mexico, West Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California, was some of the most remote, inhospitable territory in the Spanish Empire. Espada anchas developed from 17th century Spanish civilian/hunting broadswords, with their lengths reduced to make them useful as both a weapon and a tool for clearing brush in the harsh desert country. Earlier espada anchas like this one retained the hilt of its precursors, with a clam shell syle guard on the display side of the hilt. A knuckle bow guard extends out the other side of the crossguard, forming an inward-curving quillion tip. The hilt on this sword, like on others of the time period, is made of iron and the grip is sandwich constructed with wood and riveted together. This espada ancha can be dated to the early 18th century because of its single-sided blade. More can be learned about the espada ancha and its history in what is today the southwestern United States from a conservation project at the New Mexico History Museum. Size: Blade is 22"L (cm); in total, 26-1/2"L x 5-1/4"W (cm x cm).
Provenance: Ex-James Caswell, ex-Historia, Los Angeles, CA.
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#110891
- Condition: Typical age-related wear, wonderful patina on the wood handle.
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