Hello.
My name is Araceli Moreno Coll, I'm a doctor in art history, and I will talk to you
about the representation of andalusian weaponery in painting, specifically
the ear dagger. The ear dagger
is a type of weapon that was used in the Nasrid panoply
This bladed weapon is characterized, as we can observe,
by two discoidal appendages called discs or ears
in which the pommel is divided.
One important item king Boabdil Muhammad I, lost
after the battle of Lucena in 1483 was a dagger
in addition to the clothing he was wearing, and his sword.
The dagger was then given by, the Catholic kings to don
Diego Fernández de
Córdoba as a thanksgiving gift for his help in the fight
against the Nasrid population.
This object of Andalusian material culture was preserved by the descendant
of the first marquis of Comares until the 20th century.
The hilt of the dagger
of Boabdil is made of ivory and is decorated with vegetal
motives and knots. The sheath is make of leather
and shows the coat of arms of the Nasrid dynasty.
This weapon was manufactured in the royal workshops
and served as an element of exhibition
in public arts for the wealth of its materials
among which is ivory,
and for having ornamentation of meticulous work.
It was a weapon offered as presents to Granadan courtiers
and christian elites.
This type of weaponry became a material asset highly
coveted by Christians, considered as an object of luxury
and social ostentation. It then widely spread across the Iberian Peninsula
between the 15th and 16th centuries
and also in Italy.
It is for this that Christian artisans reproduced it.
We can see
design made by a Valencian silversmith
with which we can observe the handle of a dagger
with the decoration based on vegetal elements
very similar to the ornamentation used in the dagger of Boabdil.
Another example
where we can observe the Christian attraction.
to andalusian weaponry is this drawing which represents a sheath
with the Nasrid coat of arms
in ataurique decoration.
It is the characteristic emblem of the Nasrid monarchy.
It consists of a shield with a transverse band which carries the galiba or offical
motto of the sultanate wa-lā gālib illà Allāh
written in Islamic calligraphy.
This motto that translates to "There is not victor
but God", appears in all artistic manifestations
of Nasrid art.
Among the ear daggers that have reached the Christian society,
we have this weapon decorated with the coat of arms of the Mendoza
family.
The piece could have been commissioned by Iñigo
Lopez de Mendoza, mayor of the Alhambra from the Nasrid workshops
that maintained their operations even after the conquest of Granada.
The desire
for this type of weapon settled among the nobles and kings
and we see them portrayed wielding these weapons.
Among the examples we can highlight various works
where Carlos I appears with his finery
flaunting his power.
Having a portrait taken holding this type of weapon was a fashion
that escaped the borders of the Iberian Peninsula,
as shown by several effigies of the young Edward VI of England,
richly dressed in velvet and brocade,
holding tightly an ear dagger.
It seems that the dagger
carried by the young King could have belonged to his father's armery
and was certainly made by the Spanish master swordmith
Diego de Çaias who worked for some of the European
royal houses, among which was Henry VIII.
We have shown
through the representation of Nasrid weaponry paintings,
the cultural and artistic exchanges among the Muslims and
Christians in the Spanish Peninsula territory. The ear dagger was
an object appreciated as
an asset with high quality.
Not everyone could own it,
and it's for the reason that it was wielded by the majesties
as a symbol of power.
To close,
we can see this kind of dagger in the scene of the Adoration of the Magi
whose personalities are also kings.
They with the richness of their clothing and carrying this type of weapon
demonstrate their elevated social position.