Two-Handed Sword of the State Guard of Julius of Brunswick-Lunüneburg (1574): Art, History and Details

Two-Handed Sword of the State Guard of Julius of Brunswick-Lunüneburg (1574) is in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection.

The work and its context

The museum's open-access catalogue describes the work:

This is one of a large series of swords distinguished by the fish-shaped crossbar on the hilt (quillon) and pierced, crutch-shaped pommels. Each sword in this series is also dated and numbered. The crowned monogram of Duke Julius, the year 1574, and the number of this particular sword (N 59) are etched on the portion of the blade between the hilt and the beginning of the sword’s edge (or ricasso).

Object facts

• Title: Two-Handed Sword of the State Guard of Julius of Brunswick-Lunüneburg
• Date: 1574
• Culture: Germany, Brunswick, 16th century
• Type: Arms and Armor
• Technique: steel, leather and wire bound grip
• Dimensions: Overall: 186.1 cm (73 1/4 in.); Blade: 132.1 cm (52 in.); Quillions: 51.4 cm (20 1/4 in.); Grip: 45.7 cm (18 in.); Ricasso: 25.1 cm (9 7/8 in.)
• Collection: MED - Arms & Armor
• Department: Medieval Art
• Accession number: 1916.1508

A detail from the museum

The sheer size of this sword is both awe-inspiring and intimidating, but the highly ornate engraved details indicate that it wasn't used in battle. Imagine your security system being a guard wielding a blade similar to this one.

Collection credit

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance

Further reading listed by the museum

• Forrer, Robert. Die Waffensammlung des Herrn Stadtrath Rich. Zschille in Grossenhain (Sachsen). Berlin: E. Mertens, [date of publication not identified].
• Rudolph Lepke’s Kunst-Auctions-Haus, Berlin. R. Zschille’sche waffensammlung. Mar 21-22, 1900.
• Catalogue of Arms and Armour. Vol. 2, 16th century. [Boston, Massachusetts]: [Frank Gair Macomber], [1900-1915].

View the collection record

See the museum's photographs and full catalogue entry. Catalogue text is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art's open-access data, with HTML formatting removed. This object and its supplied image are designated CC0.