France, Paris (?), 18th century / c. 1780
Small Sword
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Small Sword as arms and armor (France, Paris (?), 18th century · c. 1780).
The fashion among gentleman for wearing small-swords with everyday attire began to wane by the end of the 1700s with the exception of the military dress sword.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this arms and armor as forged steel blade; partially gilt and russet steel hilt; steel wire, leather bands, wood core.
The museum's collection notes: During the 1700s, the small-sword emerged as a light, quick weapon. Like the rapier it was carried by unarmored civilians, the noblemen of the upper classes. Over time this delicate sword became more an accessory of male attire than a weapon essential to life and death. The sword hilt, which shows even when the blade is sheathed, became the ground for elaborate decoration. These small-swords thus represent the final stage in the evolution of the sword, from the edged weapons of antiquity to the elegantly refined blades of the 1700s and 1800s.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtSmall SwordOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.