Subject: aristocratic gentleman
Culture: English
Setting: Georgian period, England / British empire mid-late 18thc
Object: smallsword
Angel Sword *
* Higgins Armory Museum > Story of the Sword
"Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795) and perhaps Matthew Boulton (1728- [sic] Smallsword, about 1790 England (perhaps Birmingham and Burslem)
Steel, faceted, burnished, blued and gilded; iron; jasperware Weight: 1 lb. 1 oz. ...
This superb sword is both costume accessory and witness to industrial history. Boulton and Wedgwood were two of the leading figures in the Industrial Revolution; Boulton also worked with James Watt in developing the steam engine. Boulton's civilian dress swords were among the first to be factory-made. Earlier smallswords with false gems inspired the use of cut-steel faceted beads resembling diamonds. The English became masters of the technique, also used on jewelry, buttons and buckles. By the 1780s, Wedgwood and Boulton were fitting such steel articles with jasperware plaques with neoclassical designs inspired by those discovered in Roman and Etruscan ruins." ...
Royal Armouries Museum > Self-Defence Gallery *
"Smallsword English, London, dated 1730/1
Not all smallswords were highly decorated. This silver hilted sword's beauty lies in its proportions and simplicity.
Its blade is perfectly functional, and was probably one of the many imported from Germany." ...
* Royal Ontario Museum > Arms and Armor
"1790 Angleterre. Lame en acier à section triangulaire.
Garde et ornements en acier ciselé à facettes de style néo-classique." ...
Royal Armouries Museum > Self-Defence Gallery *
"Smallsword English, London, dated 1774/5
The silver hilt of this sword is decorated in the fashionable rococo style which swept Europe in the mid 18th century.
The etched decoration on its German blade includes a dog pursuing a rabbit." ...
* Royal Armouries Museum > Self-Defence Gallery
"Smallsword and scabbard
English, London, dated 1764 By Mary Carman [NOTE: scabbard not on display]
Mary Carman took over her husband's business on his death, describing herself as 'silver hilt maker'.
This sword was retailed by Nixon, a sword-cutler in the Strand." ...
Royal Armouries Museum > Self-Defence Gallery *
"Smallsword and scabbard English, London, about 1798-1800 by R. Johnston
The late 18th century fashion for cut-steel stud and beaded decoration extended from buttons and jewellery to smallsword hilts.
The hard steel polished up brightly, retaining its jewel finish well." ...
* Royal Armouries Museum > Self-Defence Gallery
"Smallsword and scabbard English, London, dated 1766/7 By Joseph Clare II
This sword is believed to have belonged to Commander John Shortland, RN (1739-1803);
contemporary portraits of Naval Officers show similar swords worn with full dress uniform." ...
*Royal Armouries Museum > Self-Defence Gallery
"Smallsword English, Woodstock, about 1775
Cut-steel hilts became fashionable in the later eighteenth century, the Birmingham firm of Boulton and Watts leading the field.
Woodstock hilts were distinguished by their studs crewing rather than riveting in place." ...
* Royal Armouries Museum > Self-Defence Gallery
"Smallsword and scabbard English, London, dated 1758-9
This small-sword is typical of fashionable London-made silver hilts of the period.
The blade, a robust German import, is decorated with figures of the apostles -- named to avoid confusion." ...
