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During the 1700s, the small-sword emerged as a light, quick weapon. Like the rapier it was carried by unarmored civilians, the noblemen of the upper classes. Over time this delicate sword became more an accessory of male attire than a weapon essential to life and death. The sword hilt, which shows even when the blade is sheathed, became the ground for elaborate decoration. These small-swords thus represent the final stage in the evolution of the sword, from the edged weapons of antiquity to the elegantly refined blades of the 1700s and 1800s.

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Page
1
Source index
0
Type
photo
Media ID
88abc4a172efb405
Size
unknown

Document data

ID
95331
Core
obj
Type
object
DTO data
{
    "id": "95331",
    "contentType": "object",
    "title": "Small Sword",
    "description": "During the 1700s, the small-sword emerged as a light, quick weapon. Like the rapier it was carried by unarmored civilians, the noblemen of the upper classes. Over time this delicate sword became more an accessory of male attire than a weapon essential to life and death. The sword hilt, which shows even when the blade is sheathed, became the ground for elaborate decoration. These small-swords thus represent the final stage in the evolution of the sword, from the edged weapons of antiquity to the elegantly refined blades of the 1700s and 1800s.",
    "date": "1640–60",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.1099",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "wikidata": [
        "Q60778553"
    ],
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Arms and Armor"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1099/1916.1099_web.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1099/1916.1099_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1099/1916.1099_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 104.5 cm (41 1/8 in.); Blade: 86 cm (33 7/8 in.); Guard: 7.6 cm (3 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "Germany, Passau (?), 17th century"
    ],
    "accession": "1916.1099"
}

Context sent to Scholar

Document identity
{
    "localId": "95331",
    "label": "Small Sword",
    "core": "obj",
    "dtoType": "object"
}
Document source metadata
{
    "id": "95331",
    "contentType": "object",
    "title": "Small Sword",
    "description": "During the 1700s, the small-sword emerged as a light, quick weapon. Like the rapier it was carried by unarmored civilians, the noblemen of the upper classes. Over time this delicate sword became more an accessory of male attire than a weapon essential to life and death. The sword hilt, which shows even when the blade is sheathed, became the ground for elaborate decoration. These small-swords thus represent the final stage in the evolution of the sword, from the edged weapons of antiquity to the elegantly refined blades of the 1700s and 1800s.",
    "date": "1640–60",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.1099",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "wikidata": [
        "Q60778553"
    ],
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Arms and Armor"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1099/1916.1099_web.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1099/1916.1099_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1099/1916.1099_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 104.5 cm (41 1/8 in.); Blade: 86 cm (33 7/8 in.); Guard: 7.6 cm (3 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "Germany, Passau (?), 17th century"
    ],
    "accession": "1916.1099"
}
Document source extras
{
    "tec": "steel, wood, steel wire, copper, chiseled shell guard; blade: blued, gilded, pierced and engraved",
    "tombstone": "Small Sword, 1640–60. Germany, Passau (?), 17th century. Steel, wood, steel wire, copper, chiseled shell guard; blade: blued, gilded, pierced and engraved; overall: 104.5 cm (41 1/8 in.); blade: 86 cm (33 7/8 in.); guard: 7.6 cm (3 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance, 1916.1099",
    "collection": "MED - Arms & Armor",
    "didYouKnow": "This small sword has a veritable panoply of animal imagery. Men ride horses across the crossguard, the horizontal element closest to the blade, and around the pommel, the globular tip of the handle. Mythical animals feature prominently on the guard, the semi-circular piece that covered the knuckles.",
    "citations": [
        {
            "citation": "Christie, Manson &amp; Woods, London. <em>Choice collection of works of art, mostly of the XVth, XVIth and XVIIth centuries</em>. Mar 8-12, 1898. Lot 268.",
            "page_number": "Mentioned: p. 34, lot 268",
            "url": "https://archive.org/details/Gurney/page/n38"
        },
        {
            "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. (221) 240",
            "url": "https://archive.org/details/CatArmsArmour4/page/n268"
        },
        {
            "citation": "Gilchrist, Helen Ives. <em>A Catalogue of the Collection of Arms &amp; 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. 121, E78; Reproduced: Plate XXIX, E78",
            "url": "https://archive.org/details/SeveranceCollection1924/page/n184"
        }
    ],
    "url": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.1099",
    "creditline": "Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance",
    "updatedAt": "2026-05-29 05:06:39.110000",
    "imageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1099/1916.1099_print.jpg",
    "sourceId": 95331,
    "dept": "Medieval Art",
    "coll": "MED - Arms & Armor",
    "med": "steel, wood, steel wire, copper, chiseled shell guard; blade: blued, gilded, pierced and engraved",
    "thumbnail_url": null,
    "image_url": null
}
Page context
{
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    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1099/1916.1099_web.jpg",
    "mediaId": "88abc4a172efb405"
}