Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
"Landsknecht" Dagger and Sheath
A dagger of this type might be carried by a German "Landsknecht" or mercenary foot soldier (derived from "Knecht" meaning servant or farm hand) in the early 16th century. It served in the field both as a weapon and as a tool. The blade is inscribed on each side "I A N" between quatrefoils of punch marks; in addition, a maker's mark is impressed on the back.
The blackened iron sheath contains as well a smaller knife (the blade bearing the mark of three small crosses) and a skewer for use in camp.
Inscription
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Zschille; Sale, London, 1897, no. 47; Henry Griffith Keasbey; Henry Griffith Keasbey Collection Sale, American Art Association, New York, November 29, 1924, no. 192; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1924, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Geographies
Germany (Place of Origin)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters, 1924
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
51.527