The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of November 28, 2023

Two-Handed Sword

1550–1600

Germany, second half 16th Century

Steel, leather and wood grip, bronze pommel

Overall: 170.5 cm (67 1/8 in.); Blade: 125.6 cm (49 7/16 in.); Quillions: 53.7 cm (21 1/8 in.); Grip: 43.2 cm (17 in.); Ricasso: 34.7 cm (13 11/16 in.)

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance 1919.70

Location

210A Armor Court

Description

The two-handed sword, originally a weapon of war for specialist infantry, is so named because two hands were required to wield it. By the late 1600s, these enormous swords assumed a largely ceremonial or bodyguard function.

Provenance
Frank Gair Macomber; Boston; Theodore Offerman; (sale February 1919); cat. #434.
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. 100, E37 archive.org
Exhibition history

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

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

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1919.70