Hilt: Portuguese or Spanish; blade: probably German
Dress Sword
INV-1062
Hilt: Portuguese or Spanish; blade: probably German1743
Dress Sword
Hilt: Portuguese or Spanish; blade: probably German
edged weapon-swordarms
Date
1743
Medium
Gold-Copper alloy, steel, and gilding
Dimensions
Overall L. 103.5 cm (40 3/4 in.)
Blade L. 86.4 cm (34 in.)
Wt. 2 lb. 2 oz.
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
George F. Harding Collection
Cast in solid gold, the hilt of this dress sword is a rare survival. More often such extravagant pieces were melted down for the value of the precious material. The goldsmith who made it is unknown, though the heavy florid style and form of the guard suggests a southern European, perhaps Portuguese origin.
Also notable
Works in the same vein
