Baselarda

Baselarda

Baselarda blades (daggers or knives) are named after the city of Basel in Switzerland, where they started to be made in the 13th century. In Italy, and in most of Western Europe between the late Middle Ages and the early Modern Age, the baselarda dagger was probably the most widespread handheld weapon. It was incredibly successful because it was inexpensive to produce and very strong, being made with a single piece of metal: the blade is joined with the elsa, with a typical H shape, which already had the holes for fixing the materials that made up its handle. Both items on display at the Museo Ferrucciano, were found in Gavinana (in different moments and unknown situations); this one – characterised by a longer and thinner blade, with a rhomboid section - is probably the oldest, possibly from the late thirteenth century; it was donated to the nmuseum collections by Filippo Petrucci.