Arms & Armor Medici Falchion
Original: 1560s Italian, Wallace Collection, London
This glorious sword has an unparalleled quality and attention to detail from the inscribed coat of arms on the blade to the weight and balance of the original sword. The blade is etched with the personal coat of arms of Cosimo de' Medici (1519-1574) and encircled with the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece. As Duke of Florence between 1564, when he was inducted to the Order of the Golden Fleece and 1569 when he was created Grand Duke of Tuscany and his coat of arms changed, dates this sword to this specific period.
The pommel is sculpted as a lion's head, while the guard is a low relief of acanthus leaves with the curved quillons terminating in small lion's heads and a lion's face on the shell. The furniture is done in solid bronze covered in gold. The grip is bound in blackened steel and bronze wire. The blade has two fullers that run nearly the full length of the blade. The short ricasso block is decoratively etched on both sides with the coat of arms extending down the fullered body of the blade.
This is a limited edition piece numbered 1 of 250.
Overall length: 29.625"
Weight: 3.5 pounds
Width of guard: 7.75"
Blade: 23.5" long; 1.75" wide tapering to 2.25"
Grip and pommel: 5.5"
Maker:
Arms & Armor of Minnesota.
Inspired by an original located in the Wallace Collection, London (Cat. No. A710).
This item has been retired from the collection.
Inspired by an original located in the Wallace Collection, London (Cat. No. A710).
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