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Source Description
The small-sword was a civilian thrusting weapon customarily worn by well-to-do gentleman in civilian dress during the weapon's heyday in the 1700s, and were later worn on formal or court occasions. They were traditionally suspended at about mid-thigh from the left side of the belt, the gilt exposed through an opening in the gentleman's coat. Since it was highly visible it was subject to lavish decoration with precious materials and fashions came and went. Many were decorated to match personal costume and were truly an emblem of social rank.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
95329
label
Small Sword
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
95329
contentType
object
title
Small Sword
description
The small-sword was a civilian thrusting weapon customarily worn by well-to-do gentleman in civilian dress during the weapon's heyday in the 1700s, and were later worn on formal or court occasions. They were traditionally suspended at about mid-thigh from the left side of the belt, the gilt exposed through an opening in the gentleman's coat. Since it was highly visible it was subject to lavish decoration with precious materials and fashions came and went. Many were decorated to match personal costume and were truly an emblem of social rank.
date
1700s
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q60778706
genreSpecific
Arms and Armor
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 90.7 cm (35 11/16 in.); Blade: 77.2 cm (30 3/8 in.); Quillions: 8.6 cm (3 3/8 in.)
cul
France, 18th century
accession
1916.1096
Source extras
tec
steel, copper alloy inlays; wood grip with steel wire
tombstone
Small Sword, 1700s. France, 18th century. Steel, copper alloy inlays; wood grip with steel wire; overall: 90.7 cm (35 11/16 in.); blade: 77.2 cm (30 3/8 in.); quillions: 8.6 cm (3 3/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance, 1916.1096
collection
MED - Arms & Armor
didYouKnow
The banded pattern on the hilt was achieved by carefully winding wire over a wooden core. The result was a handle with a textured surface that improved the user's grip.
citations
citation
<em>Catalogue of Arms and Armour</em>. Vol. 4, <em>17th to 19th century and a few pieces of iron work</em>. [Boston, Massachusetts]: [Frank Gair Macomber], [1900-1915].
page_number
Mentioned and Reproduced: No. (223) 242
citation
Gilchrist, Helen Ives. <em>A Catalogue of the Collection of Arms & Armor Presented to the Cleveland Museum of Art by Mr. and Mrs. John Long Severance; 1916-1923</em>. Cleveland: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1924.
page_number
Mentioned: p. 123, E82; Reproduced: Plate XXXIII, E82
citation
Fliegel, Stephen N. <em>Arms and Armor: The Cleveland Museum of Art. </em>[Cleveland, Ohio]: The Museum, 1998.
page_number
pp. 121, 169; cat. no. 141
citation
Fliegel, Stephen N. <em>Arms & Armor: The Cleveland Museum of Art.</em> [Cleveland, Ohio]: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2007.
page_number
cat. no. 202, p. 192
creditline
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance
updatedAt
2026-05-29 05:06:37.938000
sourceId
95329
dept
Medieval Art
coll
MED - Arms & Armor
med
steel, copper alloy inlays; wood grip with steel wire
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
75fe82f3022c4f58