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Bill
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
This weapon known as the "bill" was developed from an agricultural tool and was one of the first staff weapons to be used by medieval infantries. Used throughout Western Europe, it was particularly popular in Italy and England where it served as an equivalent to the Central European halberd. Fitted with a pronounced hook whose inside and outside curves were cutting edges, it was topped by a long spike.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineBill, c. 1480. Italy, 15th century. Steel, wood haft; overall: 184.8 cm (72 3/4 in.); blade: 11.4 cm (4 1/2 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance, 1916.1835
