MASSIVE TEUTONIC KNIGHTS TWO HANDED GREATSWORD - 207 CM

MASSIVE TEUTONIC KNIGHTS TWO HANDED GREATSWORD - 207 CM
Ca. Late 16th century AD or earlierA colossal two-handed sword with a straight, double-edged blade and a wide, shallow fuller. There are several marks and inlaid depictions on the blade. Two armourer marks are punched into each side of the blade, seemingly depicting a Latin cross atop the reverse edge of a sickle. The letters INRI are also engraved into both sides of the blade, the initialism which represents the Latin term “Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum”, which in English means "Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews". An inlaid figure on the blade is likely meant to depict a wolf, possibly representing the wolf of the ancient iron-working town of Passau in Eastern Bavaria. The crossguard is thick and square and the pommel is large and pear-shaped; both may be later additions. The handle is made of wood and retains some copper wire wrapping. For similar see: The Royal Armouries, Object number IX.1024.; The Royal Armouries, Object number IX.1025.; The Rijksmuseum, Object Number NG-NM-522.Size: L:2075mm / W:455mm ; 6.35kgProvenance: Property of a Surrey gentleman; acquired from a Sussex collector; formerly from an old country house in East Sussex. This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter.This piece is accompanied by a historical report from Alessandro Neri, an international Cultural Heritage expert based in Florence, Italy.