This exceptionally elegant German double-edged sword dates circa 1620 and measures approximately 111 cm in length. The sword features an etched hilt and decorated blade with the inscriptionFIDESED * CVIVI.DEon one side and“MESECIT, Solingen”on the other(MESECIT was ME FECIT SOLINGEN translated as Solingen Made Me), along with talismanic symbols. During the 17th century, master bladesmiths in Solingen forged high-quality swords and rapiers for knights, nobility, and militaries across Europe. The "Me fecit Solingen" engraving (and its various spellings on antique pieces) served as an early form of a trademark and a guarantee of superior hardness and sharpness. The wide blade is formed with a strong medial ridge, while the hilt is fitted with large circular quillons, a heart-shaped flat pommel, and vessel elements with chiseling. The wooden handle is without wire wrapping, and the piece bears a museum control number, adding further collecting and research interest.
German swords of the early 17th century were produced during a period of high refinement in European arms, when weapons still served practical martial roles while also expressing rank, wealth, and personal identity. Around 1620, on the eve of and during the early years of the Thirty Years’ War, high-status swords often incorporated inscriptions, talismanic devices, and finely worked hilts intended to convey both protection and prestige. The Solingen reference is especially notable, as the city was one of Europe’s great blade-making centers.
The original owner of this sword must have been a very high-ranking member of the military or a wealthy patron who wanted an exceptionally refined weapon. With its decorated blade, etched hilt, talismanic markings, Solingen inscription, museum control number, and expert provenance, this is a sophisticated and highly desirable early 17th-century German sword.
Provenance: Acquired from a world-renowned arms and armor expert in the United States.
Dimensions: Overall length: approximately 111 cm.
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