Did medieval swords ever have jeweled hilts?

Popular culture is awash in images of medieval swords covered in jewels, but was this actually a thing that happened? Today we examine the question and take a close look at four swords and daggers from the Oakeshott Institute collection that feature shiny decorations.

While some swords from the so-called Dark Ages (more properly known as the Migration Period) did indeed have jeweled hilts, by the medieval period this was much less common. As culture changed over this thousand year period aesthetics and style also changed. Whereas earlier pre-viking swords were sometimes inlaid with semi-precious stones, like the cut garnet in the hilt of the Sutton Hoo sword, medieval swords were much more stark, embracing a style that was rather minimalist.

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