Left-Handed Dagger or "Main Gauche"
c. 1650
Maker Unknown
Medieval Art
Left-Handed Dagger or "Main Gauche", c. 1650. Spain (?) or Italy, (Neapolitan?), 17th century. Steel, pierced and chiseled; overall: 57.2 cm (22 1/2 in.); blade: 44.4 cm (17 1/2 in.); quillions: 25.4 cm (10 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance 1916.699 The main-gauche (French for "left hand") was used mainly to assist in defense by parrying enemy thrusts, while the dominant hand wielded a rapier.
- Maker/Artist
- Maker Unknown
- Classification
- Arms and Armor
- Formatted Medium
- steel, pierced and chiseled
- Dimensions
- Overall: 57.2 cm (22 1/2 in.); Blade: 44.4 cm (17 1/2 in.); Quillions: 25.4 cm (10 in.)
- Departments
- Medieval Art
- Accession Number
- 1916.699
- Credit Line
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance
- Rights Statement
- CC0
- Museum Location
- 210A Armor Court
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