Apr 13, 2020

Pillow Sword

Pillow Sword

c. 1650

Steel, pierced; leather and wood

Overall: 93 cm (36 5/8 in.); Blade: 77.8 cm (30 5/8 in.); Quillions: 9.5 cm (3 3/4 in.)

Weight: 460 g (1.01 lbs.)

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance 1916.1495

Description

The "pillow-sword" is so-named because of where it was kept. A sword like this one, with a straight blade and relatively simple hilt, would have been suspended above a headboard within arm's reach for bedside defense should an intruder attack while the household was asleep and vulnerable.

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