Antique 17th century Ukrainian Zaporizhians Cossacks Hetman Mace Bulava
Rare museum quality antique 17th century, Ukrainian Zaporizhians Cossacks Hetman Mace Bulava.
DETAILS: A huge massive and heavy Bulava composed of solid bronze globular-form head, (originally gilt) hand-cut with multiple fine ribs and surmounted by an iron flower head roseate with rounded finial. Mounted on massive tubular very well hand forged, steel socket showing spiral forging lamination pattern flanked by two moldings at the top and the bottom, fitted with long wooden haft of tapering circular section with a hole for the suspension cord.
Hetman used this exceptionally large and heavy Bulava mace as a symbol of authority and the combat weapon during the war. Besides the combat, Bulava Cossack hetmans used on special occasions an elaborate ceremonial Bulava, made of wood with the head and haft encased in a tiny sheet of gild silver or copper and adorned with jewels. This type of ceremonial Bulava was too fragile to be used as a combat weapon but played a key role in ceremonies as a symbol of power and authority.
REFERENCES:
This is a museum quality object, which in fact can be found on display in the museum.
A similar example of a 17th century Ukrainian Cossack Bulava mace with an identical bronze head and described by museum curators as a 17th century Cossack commander's Bulava is in the collection of the leading Polish military museum "Muzeum Wojska Polskiego w Warszawie" (Polish Army Museum in Warsaw). And it is kept in their collection of weapons and armor as one of the important military and historical objects.
This Bulava is published in the Museum catalog "Katalog zbiorow wiek XVII. Muzeum Wojska Polskiego w Warszawie" (Collection catalog of the 17th century. Museum of the Polish Army in Warsaw). Page 79, Plate 10, Number 73; the description is on page 44; please see the last picture in the listing.
A similar ribbed mace is portrayed in the 17th century printed in 1622 woodblock portrait of the famous Zaporizhians Cossacks Hetman Petro Konashevych-Sahaidachny (1570–1622).
Also, the monument of the Hetman Petro Konashevych-Sahaidachny at Kontraktova Square in Kyiv, Ukraine, shows the Hetman holding the ribbed Bulava in his right hand.
A similar ribbed mace is depicted in many portraits of Zaporizhians Hetman Petro Doroshenko (1627–1698).
Please see the pictures in the listing.
We will provide the buyer with photocopies of the pages from the mentioned references together with a certificate of authenticity.
We searched reference books, museum catalogs, and the internet for similar 17th century Ukrainian Zaporizhians Hetman Mace Bulava. Unfortunately, I did not find any in museums, in auctions, or a private sale.
Therefore, the Bulava in the Polish Museum and our Bulava maybe only 2 of this type Cossacks Hetman Bulava's existing.MEASUREMENTS:
Overall length: 55.5 cm (21.85 inches)
Width of the head: 6.5 cm (2.56 inches)
Over-length of the head with socket: 28 .5 cm (11.22 inches)
WEIGHT: 1.287 kg (2.84 lb.)CONDITION: Showing age and usage, bronze head with combat nicks, gold gilding worn and remain only in grooves. In very good original untouched condition, for an over 300 years old combat mace. Free of repair or restoration.
Please see the pictures in the listing since they are part of the object's condition.PROVENANCE: This mace comes together with other antique Polish and Ukrainian arms and armor from an old Canadian collection of Polish and Ukrainian antiques and art.
We had attached to the listing a picture of the mace in this collection, which we had taken at the time of purchasing this collection, showing this mace together with other maces: the third mace from the left.
To see other rare objects from this collection, please view our store's contents.