Oakeshott Type XI Medieval Sword circa 1250

In excavated condition, with broad tapering blade of flattened diamond section with central fuller over nearly its entire length on each side to the point, the forte on one side inlaid in silver with a cross potent within two concentric circles, the hilt comprising straight quillons of rectangular section swelling at the tang and widening towards each tip, flat tapering tang, and large pommel of cocked-hat form

80.3 cm. blade

Sold for £18,750 inc. premium

Provenance: Peter Finer catalogue 2003, no. 5

Heavy arming swords of this type are depicted in various 13th century sources including the Maciejowski Bible of circa 1250, where they are shown splitting helmets and mail. Another example of the type is carved on a sandstone effigial slab of circa 1280, from the tomb of Friehrr Ulrich von Regensburg and now in the Schweizerisches Landesmuseum, Zurich (no. LM6748)

The pommel conforms to Oakeshott's Type D with quillons of Style 2. For more information see Ewart Oakeshott, The Sword In The Age Of Chivalry, 1964, pp. 89-90, pl. 2A; and H. Schneider & K.S. Stuber, Waffen im Schweizerisches Landesmuseum - Griffwaffen I, 1980, no. 20.

For more information on Oakeshott Type XI swords see this extract from Ewart Oakeshott's Records of the Medieval Sword: www.sword-site.com/thread/126/oakeshott-type-records-medieval-sword

Source: www.bonhams.com