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Hanger sword: HEN.M.285-1933

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Titles

Hanger sword

Maker(s)

Unknown

Entities

Categories

Description

Hanger. Pommel in the form of an eagle's head, of steel. Knuckle-guard curves outward at the top under the eagle's beak; it swells at midpoint to an oval cartouche crudely carved on each side as a human mask. Very short downcurled rear quillon, its terminal formed as an eagle's head en suite with the pommel. Large, sharply turned down shell-guard on the outside carved à jour with leaves and tendrils enclosing another mask, turned upward. Two of the tendrils end in grotesque heads, reminiscent of the 'Babewyns' decorating 13th century Mss. Blade curved, back-edged, the last 15.2 cm (6") of the back sharpened, with a long narrow fuller against the back. On the obverse of the blade, the mark 'FERARA', and on the reverse 'ANDRIA'.

Notes

History note: Gardner Sale, Sotheby's 20/11/29, lot 20A

Legal notes

J.S. Henderson Bequest

Measurements and weight

Length: 74.0 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1933-03-16) by Henderson, James Stewart

Dating

17th Century
Production date: circa AD 1630 : late 1630s

Components of the work

Grip composed of wood (plant material)
Hilt composed of steel Length 13.0 cm
Sword composed of steel
Blade Length 63.0 cm Width 3.8 cm

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: FERARA
  • Location: On blade, obverse
  • Method of creation: Inscribed
  • Text: ANDRIA
  • Location: On blade, reverse
  • Method of creation: Inscribed
  • Text: P.B.136
  • Type: Label
  • Text: British sword 19th century
  • Type: Tag

Identification numbers

Accession number: HEN.M.285-1933
Primary reference Number: 19079
Old object number: PB 136

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Wednesday 13 March 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Hanger sword" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/19079 Accessed: 2025-12-08 05:30:24

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/19079 |title=Hanger sword |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-08 05:30:24|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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