Arms & Armour
Pillow Sword
Arms & Armour
Details
- Author / creator
- Italy
- Object type
- Arms & armour
- Date or period
- c. 1650
- Dimensions summary
- Overall: 93 cm; Blade: 77.8 cm; Quillions: 9.5 cm
- Place of origin
- Italy
- Acquisition method
- Purchase
- Credit line
- Purchased with the Public appeal (1998), 1916
- Category
- Edged weapon
About this object
The "pillow-sword" is so-named because of where it was kept. A sword like this one, with a straight blade and relatively simple hilt, would have been suspended above a headboard within arm's reach for bedside defense should an intruder attack while the household was asleep and vulnerable.
Materials and technique
Steel, pierced; leather and wood
