art-of-swords

Ceremonial Sword of the Archduke Ferdinand of Tyrol

  • Owner: Archduke Ferdinand II, son of Ferdinand I of Habsburg Austria, ruler of Tyrol
  • Dated: circa 1560 
  • Culture: Italian
  • Medium: steel, wood, coral branches, gilded silver plate etched, and gilded green velvet
  • Measurements: H. 78cm, B. 19cm, T. 7cm

The hilt of the sword is composed of three branches of the precious coral or red coral (Corallium rubrum) encased in a sleeve made of silver. The slightly curved blade with a presumably upper Italian forge brand has three fullers and wears a gold plating. The coral sword is a pure art piece without specific practical function, it certainly was never actually used as a weapon.

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