Interesting smallsword for comment

[Valjhun]

I've came across that smallsword.

Not typical at all. The blade is triangualar section with a deep fuller.

Can anybody comment it? Provenince? Age?

[M ELEY]

A very nice piece, Valjhan. Where did you acquire it? I really love the openwork steel guard. It is a beautifully stylized European smallsword (possibly French, but could just as easily be any western Euro country), cut-steel hilt with vestigial pas d'an and split disc shaped (vs the earlier cup-hilted) guard. It's dating is probably in the 1790-1810 range, as earlier examples had large looped pas d'an and rounded pommels vs the later urn shaped examples such as this. The blade on it is fairly typical, 3 sided, but longer than most, suggesting a true fighter vs some of the dressier swords of this era. My 2 cents- BTW, is it for sale ( )

[Valjhun]

Thank you M Eley! Very helpfull cents...

[Jim McDougall]

I am completely in accord with Marks observations, and agree, this unusual blade appears to be a 'fighting blade' perhaps a duelling sword aligned to traditional rapiers. It is interesting however that by the period of this sword 1790-1810, most duels had favored the flintlock pistol, which had led to the decline in the smallsword. The fashionable styles did retain fashionable presence as courtwords and dress accoutrements.

The classical style in this example seems to comply with the cut steel styles popular in the Soho, Birmingham area which had arisen in the classical revival style popularized by the Adam brothers c. 1775-85. The urn type pommel, and the voluted designs in the openwork guard reflect much of this classical style, and the beadwork sunburst motif reflects the popularity of beadwork in these cut steel hilts. While this hilt seems to suggest work of the style seen in the pattern books of Matthew Boulton, the most famed maker of this area and period, it is likely 'of the school'. It is interesting to note that he did use the sunburst in his distinguishing hallmarks.

The vestigial pas d'ane rings are exactly as Mark has noted, simply reminiscent of the earlier examples of smallsword, and while these swords ceased essentially as deadly fighting swords by the early 19th century, thier graceful designs still influences officers dress swords and court swords for many years.

Very handsome example!!!

All the best,
Jim

[Dmitry]

This looks like a mix of a late 1700s-early 1800s grip, guard and blade, mated to some kind of a gothic style architectural element, perhaps a furniture decoration, used for a guard.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Dmitry

This looks like a mix of a late 1700s-early 1800s grip, guard and blade, mated to some kind of a gothic style architectural element, perhaps a furniture decoration, used for a guard.

Good observations Dmitry. I had thought this interesting sword might fall into the 1790-1810 range as Mark had noted. Your note on the architectural significance is well placed, and it has always been interesting to notice the associations in hilt design to these elements of motif in weapon decoration and style.

In the case of the neoclassicism of the late 18th century I was referring to, the designs do seem to have reflected these associations, and I am presuming you meant the design motif of the openwork guard rather than the piece itself being a furniture element. In that respect it seems well established that the classical 'volute' or scroll element which was often used in baroque architecture and design found use in motif in many forms of material culture.

The English in this latter 18th century period seem to have had considerable commanality with the French in many aspects of style, fashion and even weapons design. The smallsword had long used bilobate shellguards in the hilt design, but many had moved to single oval guards.

In reviewing "Catalog of European Court Swords and Hunting Swords" (Bashford Dean, 1929) a number of French and English court swords are shown with some basic similarities to this sword hilt. I believe the 'sunburst' designs I had noted would be better described as rosettes, so perhaps the allusion to Boulton's symbol would not be relevant, however the design does still seem of the Soho, or 'English Style of the Early 19th Century" as worded by Dean.

Attached are the plate (106,107) from Dean, English dress sword c.1810
and the illustration of volutes in classical architecture.

I believe this is the design intended by the maker of the openwork guard to accompany the neoclassical design of the hilt.

All best regards,
Jim