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Lot 183
A German Sword Of Justice Or Executioner's SwordDated Anno 1694
24 April 2013, 11:00 BST
London, KnightsbridgeSold for £4,375 inc. premium
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Find your local specialistA German Sword Of Justice Or Executioner's Sword
Dated Anno 1694
Dated Anno 1694
With broad flat double-edged rebated blade (some wear and minor areas of pitting) with central fuller on each side of the forte between etched flowering scrolling foliage, the fuller on one side etched with the inscriptions 'Wan Ich Das Schwert Thue Auffheben Wunsch Ich Dem Sünder Das Ewige Leden', an execution scene beyond, and on the other 'Die herren Steuren Dem Vnheil Ich Exquiere Ihr Urtheil Anno 1694', an indistinct figure hanging from a gallows beyond, the short ricasso on one side stamped with profile negro-head bladesmith's mark, gilt-brass hilt (some wear to gilding) comprising straight writhen quillons swelling towards the tips and with leaf-calyx terminals, globular pommel en suite and with compressed button terminal, and tapering spirally-grooved grip bound with twisted copper wire
84.6 cm. blade
84.6 cm. blade
Footnotes
The inscriptions read in translation: 'When I raise the sword against you, I wish the sinner eternal life', and 'The rulers check your evil, I execute their final judgement'
The bladesmith's mark is possibly that of Andreis or Peter Munsten
For a survey of German 'Swords of Justice' and their inscriptions see Ulrich Kühn, 'Das Richtschwert in Bayern', Waffen und Kostümkunde, 1970, heft 2, pp. 89-126




