A FINE GERMAN BROADSWORD, IN THE STYLE C.1550 by Anton Konrad, early 20th century

The second half of the 19th century brought sweeping global changes, including the ability to travel as never before. A new cosmopolitan life style for the advantaged, combined with global markets for manufacturers brought about international exhibitions where the finest craftsmanship was showcased. Industries like the Toledo etched cutlery industry, which combined traditional artistic skills with modern manufacturing methods produced magnificent results. Concurrently, a renewed interest among the wealthy in arms and armor resulted in a demand which was met by a number of artisans with traditional training. Among the earliest and most prolific was Ernst Schmidt who unabashedly published a catalog of his products. Other artisans worked on a more individual basis producing masterpieces rivaling (and sometimes represented as) the masterworks of the Renaissance. Anton Konrad of Munich is noted for his magnificent swords, primarily of large broadsword form, lavishly embellished with a variety of metalwork techniques. This example which mounts a fine 16th century blade, is decorated in deep relief with mulberry motifs involving bands of hemispheres graduating in size from the middle to the ends. Blade length: 39 1/2"

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