A Fine North European Medieval Knightly Sword Of Oakeshott Type Xa
189
A Fine North European Medieval Knightly Sword Of Oakeshott Type Xa
Mid-13th Century
In excavated condition, with broad tapering blade of flattened diamond section with central fuller over nearly its entire length on each side to the point, the forte on one side inlaid in silver with a cross potent within two concentric circles, the hilt comprising straight quillons of rectangular section swelling at the tang and widening towards each tip, flat tapering tang, and large pommel of cocked-hat form
80.3 cm. blade
Sold for £18,750 inc. premium

Footnotes

  • Provenance:
    Peter Finer catalogue 2003, no. 5

    Heavy arming swords of this type are depicted in various 13th century sources including the Maciejowski Bible of circa 1250, where they are shown splitting helmets and mail. Another example of the type is carved on a sandstone effigial slab of circa 1280, from the tomb of Friehrr Ulrich von Regensburg and now in the Schweizerisches Landesmuseum, Zurich (no. LM6748)

    The pommel conforms to Oakeshott's Type D with quillons of Style 2. For more information see Ewart Oakeshott, The Sword In The Age Of Chivalry, 1964, pp. 89-90, pl. 2A; and H. Schneider & K.S. Stuber, Waffen im Schweizerisches Landesmuseum - Griffwaffen I, 1980, no. 20

Category: Arms and Armour

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