[Nathan Robinson]

I believe this sword is located at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. By the looks of the lighting, I believe it would be in the equestrian hall though I don't remember seeing it there.

Can somebody confirm this and perhaps give an accession number?

Any additional information, photos, etc, would be greatly appreciated.

I'd be particularly grateful to see a detail of the pommel.

EDIT:

The swords in question are located at the Kölnisches Stadtmuseum, Germany.

[Mike Capanelli]

I don't recall seeing it there either, and I would remember seeing that. I'll be heading over there either this weekend or the next so I'll get the info for you unless someone gets down there first or just happens to know.

[Gabriel Lebec]

The lighting does look like the Equestrian Court, but there is a painting reflected in the glass. There are one, maybe two paintings in the entire A&A gallery, and I don't think it's there.

Unfortunately I don't know where this sword would be then. I've never seen it.
Good luck,
-GLL

[Nathan Robinson]

I'm thinking maybe that sword isn't at the Met like I was told.

Why? because I believe these are at the same place as the first sword and they're not at the Met as far as I know.

[Nathan Robinson]

That second photo gave me the answer I needed.

The swords in question are located at the Kölnisches Stadtmuseum, Germany.

I'd still like to see a close-up of the pommel inset.

[Peter Johnsson]

Nathan,

This sword has peaked my interest.
The hilt is beautiful, and the pommel insert intriguing.

I am not knowledgeable in heraldry, but the three crowns is the national emblem of Sweden.
I wonder what the combination is in that shield?
If this is a sword from the second half 15th C as it seems to be, and if there is a Swedish connection, It would be nothing short of sensational. There are really very little in the way of swords with an identity tied to a known owner.
From the shape of the cross I would guess very late 15th C but made in a rather old fashioned style. Perhaps a man with a traditional taste, or even a sword made for a situation where a celebration of traditional values is important. If it indeed is the national emblem of Sweden that is present on the pommel together with a personal coat of arms, it becomes very interesting indeed.
The three crowns could well be used by others. I do not know enough heraldry to say how uncommon the three crowns are.

I have visited the city museum of Köln and know one other sword in that display that is of great interest and needs to be documented. Now I have yet a reason to revisit that museum!

Thank you for posting this Nathan!
Looking forward to hear if any one can shed light on this sword.

[Nathan Robinson]

Hi Peter-

I'm glad it's of interest to you, too! I saw the photo and thought, "wow!" because it's so unique while also having many, many elements that are common. That might sound odd, but I think you know what I mean. I often like the balance of the "familiar with the unusual" so often seen in art objects. Like you, I believe it to be a 15th (or maybe early 16th?) century sword with clear and obvious ties back to earlier swords. Very intriguing.

The pommel inset, in particular, needs a better look of course!


I'd like to find some more details, as I'd like to find a maker to create an inspired version of it.

[Sean Flynt]

I wondered about the Swedish connection, too, but a search online revealed that the three-crown motif is relatively common. The arrangement here doesn't seem to correspond to anything I've seen yet, including the Swedish crown arrangement. I'll search again now that I know the description might be in German.

[Sean Flynt]

Bingo!

http://www.koeln-altstadt.de/kultur/koelnerstadtwappen/index.html

Apparently, it's a Köln civic sword. "Stadtwappen" seems to refer to the arms of the city rather than the sword itself, but the "Stadtwappen" inset in the pommel is strongly suggestive of civic sword status. From what I can gather elsewhere, Köln (Cologne) was a free city from 1475, so this might be the original civic sword.

Beautiful! I, too, wondered why we hadn't seen it before.