Physical description
This leather scabbard is decorated on the obverse side with scenes of worship and the sacrifice of a ram to the Goddess of Peace (or possibly Venus), placed above an imperial eagle flanked by scrolls and cornucopias, teminating in a series of marked out but uncompleted motifs. On the reverse side there are a number of CAESAR monograms and groups of three flames, the impresa (or personal emblem) of Cesare Borgia (ca.1475-1507), born in Rome, the illegitimate son of Pope Alexander VI (1431-1503), and created Cardinal of Valencia in 1493. This side is fitted with three leather tubes near the top, for straps to fasten the scabbard to the baldric.
In addition to these monograms and imprese, there are two cartouches, the upper one containing two amorini placed either side of a damaged coat of arms and the lower one the Goddess of Peace (or Venus). Near the top on the obverse side, the scabbard is inscribed MATERIAM SUPERABIT OPUS (toil will tame the material).
There are splits on the reverse side which may explain why the scabbard was never completed.
Place of Origin
Italy (northern, made)
Date
ca. 1498 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Tooled calf's leather, mounted on a former (dummy blade)
Marks and inscriptions
CESAR
MATERIAM SUPERABIT OPUS. Effort will prevail over the material
Dimensions
Height: 83.5 cm, Width: 8.5 cm, Depth: 0.5 cm, Weight: 0.34 kg
Object history note
This scabbard originally belonged to Cesare Borgia (1475 - 1507), the illegitimate son of Pope Alexander VI (1431 - 1503) and military commander during the last decades of the 15th century. It was bought by the Museum for £100 in 1869. The Source is not recorded but the sword that went with it was in the possession of the Caetani family of Rome from 1787, when they acquired it from the executors of Abbate Ferdinando Galiani (1728 - 87), until as late as 1966 (cf. Claude Blair). In a report to the Science and Art Board on the 12th February 1869, Sir Henry Cole (1808 - 82) hailed it as 'the finest piece of Art in leather known'.
Historical significance: This scabbard is emblazoned with the CESAR mongram and three-flamed emblem of Cesare Borgia (1475 - 1507), the illegitimate son of Pope Alexander VI (1431 - 1503) who rose through the hierarchy of the church to the position of Cardinal of Valencia and left his religious posts in 1497 to pursue the life of a warlord until his death in a skirmish in 1503. (The nude goddess being worshipped may represent either Peace or Venus, whom astrologers connected with the constellation Taurus: the bull was the emblem of the Borgia family.) Cesare waged wars on behalf of his father, and conquered much of Romagna including the city of Imola, which he used as his base. He sacked Urbino in 1498 and for a time threatened Florence. Niccolò Machiavelli (1469 - 1527) was sent to negotiate with him and found his cunning and ruthlessness sufficiently impressive to serve as his model for the ideal prince in his treatise, Il Principe, published in Florence in 1513.
Historical context note
Being entitled to wear a sword in peaceful social gatherings as well as battle was the mark of a nobleman. While the sword remained in its sheath or scabbard, it symbolized both the peaceful intent and the social rank of the owner rather than his prowess on the battlefield. Leather was the best material as it was waterproof if properly prepared and it would protect the blade from rust. Swords with long blades are best suited to being paraded in princely and ecclesiastical ceremonies, whereas those with shorter ones, like this example, were more suitable for combat. If the owner was a noble or military commander, a sword with a blade and scabbard, both lavishly decorated with his own personal themes, would have helped provide him with the required swagger to reinforce his status. This item remained unfinished, possibly owing to a defect in the leather.
Descriptive line
Tooled leather sword scabbard mounted on a former (dummy blade) and decorated with scenes, monograms and emblems on both sides. Italian, about 1498
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
I Borgia Milan: Electa, 2002. 297 p. ill ISBN 8843583204
entry in catalogue written by Dr James Yorke, V&A, p 193
John Fleming, Art Dealing in the Risorgimento, II The Burlington Magazine, Vol. CXXI [August 1979]; and III, Vol. CXXI [Sept. 1979], p.568-580. See part III, n.34
W.H.Woodward, 'Cesare Borgia', (London, 1913)
Charles Yriarte, 'L'Epée de César Borgia' in Autour des Borgia (Paris 1891), part III, pp. 143 - 209. (Paris, 1890).
Claude Blair, 'Cesare Borgia's sword-scabbard', V & A Bulletin, Vol. II, No. 4 (1966), pp. 125 - 136.
Elizabeth Bemis, The Sword of Cesar Borgia: A redating with an examination of his personal iconography, 2007.
Thesis presented to the Graduate school of the University of Florida in Partial fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts. Copy in FWK information section
Exhibition History
The Borgias: From Gothic World to Renaissance Universe (Fondazione Memmo, Palazzo Ruspoli, Rome 02/10/2002-23/04/2003)
Labels and date
SCABBARD made for Cesare Borgia
About 1498
Cesare Borgia is one of the great villains of history. The illegitimate son of Pope Alexander VI, he was a ruthless schemer and soldier who may have murdered his own brother. In 1498 he relinquished his position as cardinal in order to marry. This scabbard and its accompanying sword (in another collection) may have been made to commemorate that occasion.
Northern Italy
Moulded and incised leather (cuir bouilli), the decoration incomplete
With the monogram and device of Alexander VI
Museum no. 101-1869 [2008]
SCABBARD
Wrought and incised leather (cuir bouilli), the decoration incomplete
North Italian; late 15th century
Made for Cesare Borgia (c.1475-1507), whose monogram and device it bears, and intended for a sword, bearing the same monogram, in the possession of the Duke of Sermoneta. Both were possibly made to commemorate Cesare Borgia's renunciation of his cardinalate in 1498.
Associated names
Borgia, Cesare
Materials
Calf
Techniques
Mounting; Tooled
Subjects depicted
Venus; Peace
Categories
Arms & Armour
Collection code
FWK
