989 - Late Bronze Age full-hilted sword of the Riegsee type, 13th century B.C.

Late Bronze Age full-hilted sword of the Riegsee type, 13th century B.C. Oval pommel plate with an oval knob in the center. Below this is the slightly bulging hilt with constrictions at the top and in front of the curved wings, which wrap around the blade at the top. The upper constriction is narrower than the lower one; the hilt reaches its maximum width at the transition to the lower third. Horizontal grooves are still visible directly below the pommel plate, as well as on the underside of the pommel plate, as is typical for Riegsee-type swords. However, the frequently occurring so-called “paragraph pattern” is absent. The other morphological features are likewise typical of Riegsee swords. The two wings, which encircle the blade at the top in an overhanging cast, form a semicircle in the center; the slightly beveled ends are slightly but clearly tapered inward. Above each end, there is an additional rivet near the inner edge of the wings. The blade curves inward by approximately 1 cm directly below the wings. The cutting edges then run straight until just before the tip, where they curve toward it. The blade width tapers from 3.7 cm to 2.3 cm before the slight curve toward the tip. In the center of the blade is a distinctly raised ridge, approximately 1 cm wide in the upper section and only 0.7 cm wide in the lower section. Covered with a dark green oxide layer that partially reveals the underlying dark brown cuprite layer. The entire surface is partially overlaid with incrustations. Length 69.5 cm. A full-tang sword in excellent condition, without the chips on the cutting edge that are usually present. CULTURAL HERITAGE! Provenance: Private collection in northern Germany, acquired in the 1980s on the German art market. Condition: I–II