Skip to Main Content

Schiavona Broadsword

early 1700s
steel, leather, wood, brass
Overall: 109.9 cm (43 1/4 in.); Blade: 94 cm (37 in.); Grip: 9.2 cm (3 5/8 in.); Guard: 13.3 cm (5 1/4 in.)
Weight: 1.32 kg (2.91 lbs.)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance 1916.693
Location: 210A Armor Court
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.

Download, Print and Share

Did You Know?

Usually used by the military, a broadsword has a straight, wide, two-edged blade a with basket-shaped guard that helps protect the hand.

Description

The schiavona-type broadsword features a complex barred guard that slopes forward. Its name derives from the Italian word for "Slavonic" and refers to the Slavonian corps who served as bodyguards to the Doge of Venice until the end of the Venetian Republic in 1797. Such swords were popular mainly with Venetians.
Schiavona Broadsword

Schiavona Broadsword

early 1700s

Italy, Venice, early 18th Century

See Also

Visually Similar Artworks

Contact us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.