An attempt at a plausible reconstruction of a leather sheath for a 7th-century CE seax from the Langobard necropolis at Montecchio Maggiore, Italy.
After having a replica of the blade (forged by Master Francis Bean of Meridies), I wanted to make a suitable sheath for the seax from Montecchio Maggiore. The grave contained a blade and a collection of bronze rivets and studs, but no remains of the leather sheath itself. With no single, complete example to replicate, this project looked at available archaeological evidence from Langobard necropoli at Montecchio Maggiore, Trezzo sull’Adda, and Nocera Umbra (metal sheath fittings with some traces of organic materials). I compared these to some complete sheathes from neighboring cultures and looked at contemporary Langobard jewelry to come up with a method of construction and decoration that I felt was supported by the evidence.
farolfvs me fecit 