Milanese Ceremonial Two-Handed Greatsword (Spadone a due mani)

Object Name/Title

Milanese Ceremonial Two-Handed Greatsword (Spadone a due mani)

Catalog Number

111-0299

Physical Description

A well-crafted ceremonial two-handed sword (spadone a due mani) featuring elaborate heraldic decorations. The blade shows an aged patina consistent with its period, and the unsharpened ricasso section near the guard is characteristic of this sword type. The blade bears significant Milanese heraldic elements: the Visconti family's Biscione (a serpent appearing to swallow/birth a human figure) on one side and the Cross of St. Ambrose (Milan's coat of arms) on the other. The sword exhibits ceremonial rather than combat characteristics, with distinctive features including vestigially-placed flukes near the ricasso and a spiral wood grip. The overall construction suggests a formal guard weapon rather than a battlefield implement.

Sword Type

Ceremonial Two-Handed Greatsword (Spadone a due mani)

Maker/Workshop

Unknown (Milanese manufacture)

Date of Creation

Circa 1750-1825 (18th to early 19th century)

Component Materials

Blade: Steel
Guard: Steel/Iron
Grip: Wood (spiral construction)
Pommel: Steel/Iron with fluted decoration

Measurements

Overall length: 63 inches (160 cm)
Blade length: 48 inches (122 cm)
Grip length: 15 inches (38 cm)
Guard width: 14 inches (35.5 cm)
Weight: 5 pounds (2.27 kg) approximately

Edge Configuration

Double-edged blade with diamond cross-section, tapering to an acute point. The blade maintains consistent geometry along its length until the ricasso section near the guard.

Fuller Details

Features a ricasso near the guard system, which is atypical for combat-oriented two-handed swords of the 16th century German and Swiss types.

Guard Style

Complex guard system with straight horizontal quillons terminating in diamond-shaped tips. The guard includes side rings and a protective knuckle bow, with additional protective bars. The flukes are placed high on the blade near the ricasso

Pommel Type

Truncated cone design tapering toward tip, decorated with longitudinal flutes and prominent capstan. This style matches examples documented in AVB Norman's "Rapier and Smallsword" (1980, p.257, #38) dating to c. 1615-30.

Object History

This sword represents the evolution of the two-handed sword from a combat weapon to a ceremonial and guard weapon. Originally, such swords were used by German and Swiss landsknecht troops, specifically by doppelsoldners (specialized swordsmen) who fought in front lines against pike formations. While combat versions were largely discontinued by mid-16th century, the form evolved into ceremonial and guard weapons, particularly in Milan. The heraldic decorations and construction details suggest this example was created for ceremonial guard use in Milan during a period of complex geopolitical circumstances in Italy.

Acquisition Source

F.E. Williams purchased this sword from Joe Kindig Jr. in the late 50's or early 60's. It was on display at Williams' Museum of Antique Weapons in St. Augustine for more than two decades.

Temporal and Spatial Coverage

Temporal: 18th-early 19th century
Spatial: Milan, Italy

Related Collections

The F.E. Williams III Collection of Antique Weapons and Artifacts

References and Citations

Norman, A.V.B. "Rapier and Smallsword" (1980), p.257, #38

Boccia & Coelho, examples #582-584 (spadoni a due mani)

See ceremonial Montante from the Lisbon Military Museum. It too has unusual flukes close to a basket type guard.

Rights Statement

© weaponscollector.com. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0). Attribution required: "From the F.E. Williams III Collection at weaponscollector.com"