Print of Designs for a Pommel, Quillons, and Locket

The Print of Designs for a Pommel, Quillons, and Locket by Hans Holbein the Younger, executed in 1645, is a highly detailed technical study rendered in ink on paper. Classified as a print, the work serves not as a finished art piece but as a blueprint for luxury metalworking, detailing three crucial components of a high-status sword: the pommel (the counterweight and cap at the end of the hilt), the quillons (the cross-guard designed to protect the hand), and the locket (the ornate throat fitting of the scabbard).

The design reflects the elaborate standards of Renaissance ornamentation favored by the Tudor court. While Younger died in 1543, the 1645 date indicates this sheet is a posthumous impression, demonstrating the enduring influence of the master’s designs well into the 17th century. This continuity confirms Holbein’s expansive role during his tenure in the United Kingdom, where he operated not only as a portraitist but also as a primary designer of jewelry, plate, and weaponry for King Henry VIII’s court. The piece showcases intricate scrollwork and decorative motifs intended to elevate a functional martial implement into an expensive status symbol appropriate for the aristocracy.

The survival of these design prints provides crucial insight into the material culture and decorative arts of the period. The sheet is preserved within the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, offering scholars precise examples of the ornamental elements commissioned by the English elite. As a document reflecting the decorative styles of the early modern era, this work remains a significant resource. Due to the historical classification and age of the print, high-quality images of this design are often accessible through public domain archives, ensuring the longevity and widespread study of Younger's contributions to applied arts.