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Source Description
This hilt is remarkable for its figural motifs: the pommel is chiseled as a lion, the quillons as Africans' heads, and the finger guard with a mythical unicorn attacked by a hound. Combined, these symbolize the ferocity of a noble warrior who uses his weapon in a pure cause though beset by adversity. The hilt is attributed to Gottfried Leygebe by comparison with ones that are signed. It may replace an earlier one that was damaged. The blade is signed "MEVES BERNS" on one side and, on the other side, "ME FECIT SOLINGEN" ("Meves Berns of Solingen made me").
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
13203
label
Light Sword for Civilian Use
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
13203
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Light Sword for Civilian Use
description
This hilt is remarkable for its figural motifs: the pommel is chiseled as a lion, the quillons as Africans' heads, and the finger guard with a mythical unicorn attacked by a hound. Combined, these symbolize the ferocity of a noble warrior who uses his weapon in a pure cause though beset by adversity. The hilt is attributed to Gottfried Leygebe by comparison with ones that are signed. It may replace an earlier one that was damaged. The blade is signed "MEVES BERNS" on one side and, on the other side, "ME FECIT SOLINGEN" ("Meves Berns of Solingen made me").
provenance
Private collection, Sweden; Sale, Sotheby's, London, April 16, 1973, lot 219; Walters Art Museum, 1973, by purchase.
date
ca. 1650
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Arms & Armor
swords
rapiers
imageCount
1
pageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
40 3/8 in. (102.5 cm)
Source extras
med
steel, iron; grip is restored
creator_ids
4362
2157
6211
collection_ids
ARM
BAR
exhibition_ids
none
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
f3f930623c4a470f