Detail View: The AMICA Library: Court Sword
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AMICA ID:
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CMA_.1916.1095
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AMICA Library Year:
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1998
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Object Type:
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Decorative Arts and Utilitarian Objects
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Creator Nationality:
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European; British
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Creator Dates/Places:
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England
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Creator Name-CRT:
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England, London or Birmingham, c. 1790
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Title:
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Court Sword
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Title Type:
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Primary
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View:
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Full View
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Creation Date:
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c. 1790
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Creation Start Date:
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1780
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Creation End Date:
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1800
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Materials and Techniques:
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steel; silver hilt, polished and faceted; blade partially blued and gilded
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Classification Term:
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Armor
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Classification Term:
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Arms
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Classification Term:
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Arms
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Dimensions:
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Overall: , Blade: , Guard: 8.3cm
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AMICA Contributor:
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The Cleveland Museum of Art
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Owner Location:
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Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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ID Number:
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1916.1095
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Credit Line:
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Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance
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Rights:
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Context:
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The hilt of this sword is finely finished with cut or faceted steel which is burnished to resemble cut stones. The neo-classical urn shape of the pommel was especially fashionable in England after 1780 up to the turn of the century. The upper portion of this blade is blued and gilded to provide a feel of great luxury. By the end of the 18th century, civilians no longer regularly wore swords nor used them as weapons. The court sword (or "small" sword as it was known in England) had become a piece ofcostume jewelry to be worn only with court dress or by military officers in dress uniform. The hilt and often the upper part of the blade became lavishly decorated as is illustrated by this example.
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Related Image Identifier Link:
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CMA_.1916.1095.tif
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