The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 18, 2024

Parade Sword

Parade Sword

c. 1500–1525
steel, etched and gilded
Overall: 101.9 cm (40 1/8 in.); Blade: 85.4 cm (33 5/8 in.); Quillions: 17.5 cm (6 7/8 in.); Grip: 11.1 cm (4 3/8 in.)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance 1916.704
Location: 210A Armor Court

Did You Know?

Ercole dei Fedeli was an Italian goldsmith and master sword engraver; his name appears on this blade.

Description

This parade sword has a steel blade with etched and gilded bands of decoration. The decoration includes allegorical figures such as dancing satyrs and nymphs, amorini or cupids, and triumphs. The pommel, the rounded knob on the end of the handle, is flat and shaped like a shield; a raised rosette further embellishes it. The quillons or two transverse projecting members forming the cross guard, are flattened and drooping toward the blade.
  • 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
  • Catalogue of Arms and Armour. Vol. 2, 16th century. [Boston, Massachusetts]: [Frank Gair Macomber], [1900-1915]. Mentioned and Reproduced: No. (95) 98 archive.org
    Rudolph Lepke’s Kunst-Auctions-Haus, Berlin. R. Zschille’sche waffensammlung. Mar 21-22, 1900. Mentioned: p. 11, lot 61; Reproduced: lot 61 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: p. 99, E35; Reproduced: Plate XXIII, E35 archive.org
    Cleveland Museum of Art, and Helen Ives Gilchrist. Handbook of the Severance Collection of Arms and Armor. 2d ed., 1948. Reproduction: p. 37 archive.org
    Fliegel, Stephen N. Arms and Armor: The Cleveland Museum of Art. [Cleveland, Ohio]: The Museum, 1998. cat. no. 135, p. 169
    Fliegel, Stephen N. Arms & Armor: The Cleveland Museum of Art. [Cleveland, Ohio]: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2007. cat. no. 131, p. 188
  • Armor Court Reinstallation. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer).
  • {{cite web|title=Parade Sword|url=false|author=|year=c. 1500–1525|access-date=18 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1916.704