Broadsword

Art Historical Context

This finely crafted broadsword, dated 1612 and hailing from Solingen, Germany—the renowned "City of Blades"—emplifies the pinnacle of early 17th-century European manufacturing. Measuring nearly 37 inches long with a 31-inch steel blade, it weighs just under 2 pounds striking a balance of power and maneuverability ideal for infantry combat. Solingen's smiths were for their superior steel production, drawing on centuries-old techniques to forge blades that were both razor-sharp and resilient during an era of escalating conflicts, like the looming Thirty Years' War. The hilt features brass wire ...