The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 6, 2019

Sword

1400s

Germany (?), 15th century

Steel; wood and leather grip

Overall: 104.2 cm (41 in.); Blade: 87.3 cm (34 3/8 in.); Quillions: 20.3 cm (8 in.)

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance 1916.1600

Location

210A Armor Court

Fun Fact

The unornamented surfaces and signs of use on this sword and those similar to it lead us to believe that they were used in battle. Despite their utilitarian purpose, the blacksmith added details to the handles and hilts to make them visually appealing.

Provenance
Thill; Vienna; Frank Gair Macomber; Boston; cat. #559.
Citations
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. 85, E2; Reproduced: Plate XIX, E2 archive.org
Exhibition history

The Cleveland Museum of Art (09/10/1998); "Armor Court Reinstallation"

The Walters Art Museum (10/27/2002 - 12/29/2002): "The Book of Kings: Art, War and the Morgan Library's Medieval Picture Bible", exh. cat. #28, 187, fig. 7, p. 93.

Gothic Art 1360-1440. The Cleveland Museum of Art (August 6-September 15, 1963).

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

The Book of Kings: Art, War and the Morgan Library's Medieval Picture Bible. The Walters Art Museum (organizer) (October 27-December 29, 2002).

Source URL: https://cmaweb23-bbn-2.clevelandart.org/art/1916.1600