Subject: aristocrate aristocrat, nobleman
Culture: French
Setting: French Enlightenment, late Bourbon dynasty, France 18thc
Object: épée smallsword
Arlington Museum of Art > A Knight's Tale *
"Smallsword French manufacture First half of the 18th century Steel, wood
A slender sword, referred to as a smallsword, is a light, one-handed sword designed for thrusting.
The smallsword evolved from the longer and heavier late Renaissance models generally classified as rapiers.
Like most smallswords, this example is ornately decorated with etching and gilding."
Cold Steel *
* Royal Ontario Museum > Arms and Armor
"1730 French. Steel; the hilt decorated with gilt and chiselled, pierced ornament; the blade etched. ...
This small-sword features a colichemarde blade -- a type narrow at the tip but considerably broader near the hilt. Though the blade was designed for thrusting, the broad portion was considered useful for parrying.
Cette petite épée comporte une lame dite <<colichemarde>>, étroite à la pointe et nettement élargie vers la garde. C'est une lame conçue pour frapper de la pointe, dont la partie large était très utile pour parer."
1775-1785 France. La lame en acier gravée est de section triangulaire. La garde en acier est dorée et ciselée de trophées, de banderoles et de losanges de style néo-classique." ...
* Higgins Armory Museum > Story of the Sword
"Left to Right
Smallsword, 1722-26 France (Paris) Steel; silver; wood; iron; traces of gilding; copper and silver wire Weight: 14 oz. ...
Blade signed 'Poncet'
Smallsword, 1779-80 France (blade: Lyon; hilt: Paris) Steel with traces of gilding; silver; wood; leather Weight: 15 oz. ...
'Colichemarde' smallsword, about 1760-1780 Probably Germany Etched steel with traces of gilding Weight: 1 lb. 9 oz. ...
Smallsword, about 1770 Brussels (modern Belgium) and Germany (hilt perhaps from Saxony) Etched steel; cast brass with traces of gilding and silvering; painted Weight 11 oz. ...
Smallsword, about 1700-10 Western Europe, perhaps the Netherlands Steel; cast brass or bronze, once gilded; wood; iron and brass wire Weight: 1 lb. 12 oz. ...
Smallsword, about 1775-80 France (probably Paris) Steel and iron with gilding; silver wire; wood; cord Weight: 12 oz. ...
Smallsword, perhaps for mourning attire, late 1600s-early 1700s Probably France Steel with traces of blueing; iron; wood Weight 1 lb. 1 oz." ...
Royal Armouries Museum > Self-Defence Gallery *
"Smallsword Hilt French, about 1755-60 Very much a gentleman's weapon, this sword's hilt is chiselled with scenes from La Fontaine's fables. However it could still be used in anger. Despite the inscription fecit en toledo, the blade is German." ...
