Smallsword for I D

[Iliad]

Good Morning/Evening everybody,
I have recently acquired a pair of Smallswords, one of which has engravings which puzzle me. They show a man with shaved head but a coiled pigtail; winged; holding something which may be palm branches; odd trousers; bare feet. Since my enthusiasm exceeds my knowledge I am at a loss to understand this. Can someone enlighten me as to the origin of this Smallsword?
Iliad

[celtan]

Both are late 18th C., on account of the vestigial pas d'ane. The shape of the knuckle guard on the upper sword suggests is older than the lower.

The figure in question seems to be a winged woman, or a long haired man, probably depicting an angel.

I'm currently auctioning a similar sword, with an identical faceted olive pommel, and with identical scalloped guard as the upper one. This type of triangular-cut blade was known as "hollow".

All of Europe followed the french smallsword designs, so these ones can be english , french, german, dutch etc...

In fact, a very similar sword appears on "Swords and Blades Of the American Revolution", by George C. Neumann, p. 136 #224.

[Jim McDougall]

Very nice pieces Iliad! and nicely done on the assessment Manuel!!! Thank you for the insight on these. Smallswords are usually pretty tough, as you note pretty much everybody followed the French styles, as I have understood as well.
The smallsword is a fascinating weapon, and lines up well with the discussion started on the thread on fencing foils. I hope the discussion on these and other examples will continue!

All best regards,
Jim

[Jim McDougall]

I have been looking into these two smallswords further, I completely agree with Manuels assessment, and was intrigued by those faceted neoclassic pommels. In "The Smallsword in England" (J.Aylward, 1945, pp.59-64) there is interesting discussion concerning the smallsword rather in decline from between 1775-1785, but it is noted that "...an exception, however, must be made in favor of the cut steel hilts of about 1780, for some of them are not only as charming in thier simplicity as the hilts of the Queen Anne period, but the swords themselves are well designed, beautifully balanced, and absolutely efficient weapons".
The reason I looked into the Aylward reference was to discover more on the faceted pommel on these swords, and found discussion on Mathew Boulton, the innovative Birmingham man who promoted mass production of hilts (and was also the associate of James Watt in developing the steam engine). On p.60, it is noted that his "...cut steel, inlaid steel and faceted steel hilts seem to belong mainly to the period of his partnership with John Fothergill (1762-1781)". In Aylward fig. 29, Boulton's pattern book c.1760-80 shows hilts with crosshatched pommels as seen with these faceted examples.

On p.63, the very simple hilts of the latter 18th century are described mentioning again the use of facets in cut steel, and "...the former double shells of butterfly pattern have coalesced and become a single oval plate rather larger in diameter than the older style of shells, the ricassi are meagre, and the pas d'ane now consist of two rudimentary projections or else of two small half rings connected with the quillons by a little bar".

One of the key issues in identifying English smallswords, was the makers "...regrettable reluctance to inscribe his name upon his work", so that with scabbards gone, the makers are unknown. Boulton was a manufacturer of plate and steel articles, not a cutler, and it is well known that most blades were likely imported. He is thought to have made some silver hilts, which would have borne the marks he placed on his silver plate, but none of the hilts so marked are known.

I would suggest that these two interesting smallswords may well be from the 'Boulton parish' (as Aylward terms the Boulton enterprises) and as seems to be the case, unmarked, probably about c.1780, interestly corresponding with the example sword noted by Manuel (Nuemann, 224.S, p.136). This sword with scalloped oval shell and facetted urn type pommel, may be from the same general shops in the same period, which may have extended as noted to about 1790.

"...as far as England is concerned, it might as well be said that the strokes of Paul's great bell, ushering in the 19th century, at one and the same moment tolled the knell of the small sword".
Aylward, p.64



All best regards,
Jim

[celtan]

This is a cousin of the two shown. Please notice the notched tip, this was a modification performed to cause a widened wound when retrieving the blade from its victim in a duel.

BTW: I'd love to polish the hilt and circular guard, but I always get criticized for doing so. Besides, there seems to be some japanning still present, or is it?

The pommel is non magnetic, as is the grip's wiring. Silver?

Best

Manuel

[Jim McDougall]

Outstanding Manuel!!!
Most definitely has all the elements of one of the swords that this information suggests were produced in some number in Boulton and associates shops around 1770's to 90's. Since he was a silversmith, quite possible to be silver but Im not well versed in metallurgy so cannot say whether that or another metal might be in the pommel.

It is exciting to see smallswords that can be attributed not only to a fairly tight period, but potentially to a maker or in this case, a school that is so closely linked to the industrialization and mass production in England.

One thing that you mention that I consider most intriguing is the blade having a notch to increase severity of wound. This feature is present on numerous sabres and cavalry swords in Europe, and is seldom observed. It seems to be a strictly 18th century practice, and its effectiveness in accomplishing its presumed purpose has been considered questionable. What is most puzzling is why a notch would be placed in the blade back near the tip on a cavalry sabre, which was used in slashing cuts, not thrusts. It is true that some cavalry attacks involved thrust from high tierce, as I understand, but this was the exception, and a notch would seem to increase the potential for the blade becoming lodged. In any case, an interesting subject.

Thank you for posting this example as well. I agree with avoiding too much cleaning...the patina is to me embodied history

All the best,
Jim

[celtan]

Thank you, Jim. I enjoy very much reading all your contributions. Seems you're a regular "renacentist man".!

Best regards

Manuel Luis

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by celtan

Thank you, Jim. I enjoy very much reading all your contributions. Seems you're a regular "renacentist man".!

Best regards

Manuel Luis

Thanks very much Manuel, I'd like to think so!
With that note, I've been trying to track down what might be behind this rather fanciful motif on one of the blades here. While markings with trademarks, makers and associated cabalistic or talismanic symbols are fairly well represented in documentation concerning many blades in the 18th century, much of the military panoply and in this case neoclassic motif really is not.
With the clear neoclassic styling present in these times, it would seem that this winged figure reflects classical Christian convention as well as possibly any interpretation of the mythological winged deities of antiquity, with the Roman winged Victory seeming most likely on a sword blade.

In the classical designs followed in elements of the decorative motif on these hilts, it is also interesting to note how closely associated shapes often seem to religious and architectural themes.

Weapons and art are truly closely associated in many cases, particularly as shown in many of these hilts and blade decoration.

All the best,
Jim

[Iliad]

Gentlemen, thank you all so much for the informative replies to my question.
I had no idea that Smallswords were so interesting! This is so much fun that I will post threads on other items in my collection!
Brian (Iliad)

[Jim McDougall]

You're very welcome Brian...thank you for posting this! and very much looking forward to your posting others. As I noted initially, smallswords are are one of the more difficult weapons to assess as styles were so much copied and followed a close standard, but apparantly there are subtleties which help in identifying.
It is indeed fun as we all find these guidelines and clues together, and again, this topic runs closely with the threads on fencing foils, another relatively esoteric area of weapons collecting which we are compiling data on here.

All the best,
Jim