Corsèque (Chauve-Souris)
Unknown Artist
c. 1530
Medium
steel; round wood haft with leather straps
Dimensions
l. 183.5 cm · blade: w. 22.2 cm, l. 58.4 cm
Classification
Arms and Armor
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance
Accession Number
1916.1802
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The corsèque is a pole arm with a symmetrical three-pronged head consisting of a central double-edged blade and two sharp, upturned wings. The side blades served several functions: as guard to protect the soldier's hand when a thrust was delivered with the central blade; as a hook for unseating a mounted opponent; and to trip the opponent's horse. The corsèque was used mostly in Italy and France from the 1400s to the early 1600s.