The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 29, 2024

Schiavona Broadsword

Schiavona Broadsword

early 1700s
Overall: 109.9 cm (43 1/4 in.); Blade: 94 cm (37 in.); Grip: 9.2 cm (3 5/8 in.); Guard: 13.3 cm (5 1/4 in.)

Did You Know?

Usually used by the military, a broadsword has a straight, wide, two-edged blade a with basket-shaped guard that helps protect the hand.

Description

The schiavona-type broadsword features a complex barred guard that slopes forward. Its name derives from the Italian word for "Slavonic" and refers to the Slavonian corps who served as bodyguards to the Doge of Venice until the end of the Venetian Republic in 1797. Such swords were popular mainly with Venetians.
  • -1916
    Frank Gair Macomber (1849-1941) Boston, MA, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1916-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Catalogue of Arms and Armour. Vol. 2, 16th century. [Boston, Massachusetts]: [Frank Gair Macomber], [1900-1915]. Mentioned and Reproduced: No. (93) 96 archive.org
    Gilchrist, Helen Ives. A Catalogue of the Collection of Arms & Armor Presented to the Cleveland Museum of Art by Mr. and Mrs. John Long Severance; 1916-1923. Cleveland: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1924. Mentioned: p. 106, E48 archive.org
    Fliegel, Stephen N. Arms and Armor: The Cleveland Museum of Art. [Cleveland, Ohio]: The Museum, 1998. cat. no. 126, p. 168
    Fliegel, Stephen N. Arms & Armor: The Cleveland Museum of Art. [Cleveland, Ohio]: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2007. cat. no. 169, p. 191
  • Armor Court Reinstallation. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer).
  • {{cite web|title=Schiavona Broadsword|url=false|author=|year=early 1700s|access-date=29 March 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1916.693