art-of-swords: FalchionDated: circa 1490Culture: ItalianMedium:...

art-of-swords:

Falchion

• Dated: circa 1490
  
• Culture: Italian
  
• Medium: steel, engraved, etched, and partly gilt
  
• Measurements: overall length 36 inches (91.44 cm); weight 2 lb. 3 oz. (981 g)
  
• Inscription: Inscribed on the outer side of the blade: DEDUCEDTRIBULANTESNOS INDEOFACIEM [Turn away these troubles from us]; on the inner side of the blade: INDEOFACIEMUSVIRTUTEEDIPSEADNICHILUM [With God we achieve lofty goals but nothing by ourselves]
  
• Provenance: Ex coll.: Dukes of Najera, Spain; Eric Vaule
  

Falchion refers to a type of curved sword that was used in Europe from about 1200. This is one of the few to survive from the late fifteenth century. Its long narrow blade and interlaced decoration on the hilt suggest the Middle Eastern influence that was an important feature in Venetian and Spanish art.

Source: Copyright © 2015 The Metropolitan Museum of Art 

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