8legs: Cleveland museum of art

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17th-Century Executioner's Sword Has Fascinating Inscription

A 17th-century German-origin executioner’s sword sits in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection, weighing about 5.07 lbs.
The blade bears a moral inscription: 'Wan ich Das Schwerdt thu auff heben so / Wunch ich Dem armen sunder das Ewege Leben,' meaning eternal life for the sinner.
Experts note such blades were often ceremonial rather than purely functional in early Europe.
The artifact dates to the 17th century and reflects design motifs tied to Justice, the gallows, the rack, or the Crucifixion.
The Cleveland Museum of Art acquired the sword in 1916 as a gift from Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance.
The sword is composed of steel, wood, brass, and copper wire, with a blade measuring about 85.7 cm.
Museum context explains executions were largely for nobility in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, shifting by the early 1700s.
The handle and quillons measurements accompany the overall blade size, adding to the sword’s historical profile.
The object is noted for attracting public fascination due to its engraving and historical context of execution-era weapons.

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