The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of June 8, 2023

Hand-and-a-Half Sword

c. 1550

Germany, mid-16th century

Steel, blued pommel and quillions, leather grip

Overall: 123.9 cm (48 3/4 in.); Blade: 92.3 cm (36 5/16 in.); Quillions: 24.8 cm (9 3/4 in.); Grip: 30.5 cm (12 in.)

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance 1916.1506

Location

not on view

Fun Fact

There are three unidentified marks on the fuller of this blade.

Description

A hand-and-a-half sword is a large sword with a double-edged blade and a long grip so it could accommodate both hands. It was also know as a bastard sword. It would primarily be used with one hand, but if desired, the second hand could be used to give extra weight to the blow.

Provenance
-1916
Frank Gair Macomber (1849-1941), Boston, MA, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art
1916-
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Citations
Catalogue of Arms and Armour. [Boston, Massachusetts]: [Frank Gair Macomber], 1900. cat. #489 archive.org
Gilchrist, Helen Ives. A Catalogue of the Collection of Arms & Armor Presented to the Cleveland Museum of Art by Mr. and Mrs. John Long Severance; 1916-1923. Cleveland: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1924. Mentioned: p. 89, E12 archive.org
Fliegel, Stephen N. Arms and Armor: The Cleveland Museum of Art. [Cleveland, Ohio]: The Museum, 1998. cat. no. 159, p. 170
Fliegel, Stephen N. Arms & Armor: The Cleveland Museum of Art. [Cleveland, Ohio]: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2007. cat. no. 134, p. 189
Exhibition history

Armor Court Reinstallation. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer).

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1916.1506