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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.

Page data

Page
1
Source index
0
Type
photo
Media ID
99372ddff2cf5427
Size
unknown

Document data

ID
95800
Core
obj
Type
object
DTO data
{
    "id": "95800",
    "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": "c. 1720–60",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.1489",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "wikidata": [
        "Q60778728"
    ],
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Arms and Armor"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1489/1916.1489_web.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1489/1916.1489_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1489/1916.1489_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 97 cm (38 3/16 in.); Blade: 80.5 cm (31 11/16 in.); Grip: 12.6 cm (4 15/16 in.); Guard: 7.7 cm (3 1/16 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "England, 18th century"
    ],
    "accession": "1916.1489"
}

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Document identity
{
    "localId": "95800",
    "label": "Small Sword",
    "core": "obj",
    "dtoType": "object"
}
Document source metadata
{
    "id": "95800",
    "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": "c. 1720–60",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.1489",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "wikidata": [
        "Q60778728"
    ],
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Arms and Armor"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1489/1916.1489_web.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1489/1916.1489_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1489/1916.1489_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 97 cm (38 3/16 in.); Blade: 80.5 cm (31 11/16 in.); Grip: 12.6 cm (4 15/16 in.); Guard: 7.7 cm (3 1/16 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "England, 18th century"
    ],
    "accession": "1916.1489"
}
Document source extras
{
    "tec": "steel; piercing; perforation",
    "tombstone": "Small Sword, c. 1720–60. England, 18th century. Steel; piercing; perforation; overall: 97 cm (38 3/16 in.); blade: 80.5 cm (31 11/16 in.); grip: 12.6 cm (4 15/16 in.); guard: 7.7 cm (3 1/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance, 1916.1489",
    "supportMaterials": [
        {
            "description": "perforated blade"
        }
    ],
    "collection": "MED - Arms & Armor",
    "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. (218) 237",
            "url": "https://archive.org/details/CatArmsArmour4/page/n250"
        },
        {
            "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. 132, E102; Reproduced: Plate XXXII, E102",
            "url": "https://archive.org/details/SeveranceCollection1924/page/n199"
        }
    ],
    "url": "https://clevelandart.org/art/1916.1489",
    "creditline": "Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance",
    "updatedAt": "2026-05-29 05:09:00.665000",
    "imageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1489/1916.1489_print.jpg",
    "sourceId": 95800,
    "dept": "Medieval Art",
    "coll": "MED - Arms & Armor",
    "med": "steel; piercing; perforation",
    "thumbnail_url": null,
    "image_url": null
}
Page context
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    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1916.1489/1916.1489_web.jpg",
    "mediaId": "99372ddff2cf5427"
}