Sword
MakerMade by
Unknown
Date1815-1825
MediumSteel, brass, ivory
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (overall length): 23 1/2in. (59.7cm)
Other (blade length): 18 1/2in. (47cm)
ClassificationsWeapons
Credit LineGift of Elizabeth Dixon Welling
Object number1952.94.2
DescriptionTriangular bladed sword with concave or hallow ground sides. The blade is engraved with floral designs and war trophies on all three sides, and covered with gold gilt, is broken off about half way through.
There is a leather washer between the blade and the hilt. The hilt is gilded brass and features a large kidney shaped counter guard on the obverse side that is adorned with the image of an eagle with a shield in front of it, and holding arrows and olive branches in its talons.
The quillon terminates behind the blade in a flat horizontal finial in a leaf design, and in front of the blade in a small disk finial, to which the knuckle bow is attached. The knuckle bow is decorated with the image of a knight in armor on the obverse side and with floral designs along the reverse side, and connects to the pommel in a scrolling disk. The handle is brass with ivory grips that are cut with horizontal grooves on either side, and wrapped with coiled wire. There is a brass ferrule at the top of the handle that is decorated with a leaf pattern. The pommel is an eagle's head (facing forward) that has its beak open, and has a feathered appearance along its head.
NotesObject note: As there are no markings on the sword it was most likely a foreign made piece, that would have been imported and fitted out with a hilt in the U.S. (Brundage 6/2/2010)There is a leather washer between the blade and the hilt. The hilt is gilded brass and features a large kidney shaped counter guard on the obverse side that is adorned with the image of an eagle with a shield in front of it, and holding arrows and olive branches in its talons.
The quillon terminates behind the blade in a flat horizontal finial in a leaf design, and in front of the blade in a small disk finial, to which the knuckle bow is attached. The knuckle bow is decorated with the image of a knight in armor on the obverse side and with floral designs along the reverse side, and connects to the pommel in a scrolling disk. The handle is brass with ivory grips that are cut with horizontal grooves on either side, and wrapped with coiled wire. There is a brass ferrule at the top of the handle that is decorated with a leaf pattern. The pommel is an eagle's head (facing forward) that has its beak open, and has a feathered appearance along its head.
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