The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 19, 2024

Two-Handed Sword of the State Guard of Julius of Brunswick-Lunüneburg

Two-Handed Sword of the State Guard of Julius of Brunswick-Lunüneburg

1574
steel, leather and wire bound grip
Overall: 186.1 cm (73 1/4 in.); Blade: 132.1 cm (52 in.); Quillions: 51.4 cm (20 1/4 in.); Grip: 45.7 cm (18 in.); Ricasso: 25.1 cm (9 7/8 in.)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance 1916.1508
Location: 210A Armor Court

Did You Know?

The sheer size of this sword is both awe-inspiring and intimidating, but the highly ornate engraved details indicate that it wasn't used in battle. Imagine your security system being a guard wielding a blade similar to this one.

Description

This is one of a large series of swords distinguished by the fish-shaped crossbar on the hilt (quillon) and pierced, crutch-shaped pommels. Each sword in this series is also dated and numbered. The crowned monogram of Duke Julius, the year 1574, and the number of this particular sword (N 59) are etched on the portion of the blade between the hilt and the beginning of the sword’s edge (or ricasso).
  • Armory of Wolfenbuttel, Germany
    Arsenal of Vienna, Austria
    Richard Zschille (1847-1903), Leipzig, Germany
    ?-1916
    Frank Gair Macomber (1849-1941), Boston, MA, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1916-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Forrer, Robert. Die Waffensammlung des Herrn Stadtrath Rich. Zschille in Grossenhain (Sachsen). Berlin: E. Mertens, [date of publication not identified]. Mentioned: cat. no. 175; Reproduced: Tafel 80 archive.org
    Rudolph Lepke’s Kunst-Auctions-Haus, Berlin. R. Zschille’sche waffensammlung. Mar 21-22, 1900. Mentioned: pp. 11-12, lot 67; Reproduced: lot 67 archive.org
    Catalogue of Arms and Armour. Vol. 2, 16th century. [Boston, Massachusetts]: [Frank Gair Macomber], [1900-1915]. Mentioned and Reproduced: No. (78) 80 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: pp. 96-97, E29; Reproduced: Plate XXV, E29 archive.org
    Fliegel, Stephen N. Arms and Armor: The Cleveland Museum of Art. [Cleveland, Ohio]: The Museum, 1998. p. 107-9, cat. no. 161
    Fliegel, Stephen N. Arms & Armor: The Cleveland Museum of Art. [Cleveland, Ohio]: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2007. cat. no. 135, p. 189
  • Armor Court Reinstallation. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer).
  • {{cite web|title=Two-Handed Sword of the State Guard of Julius of Brunswick-Lunüneburg|url=false|author=|year=1574|access-date=19 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1916.1508