Rapier with Scabbard
Unknown Artist
early 18th century
Medium
Steel, leather, brass
Dimensions
L. with scabbard 39 1/8 in. (99.4 cm); L. without scabbard 38 1/4 in. (97.1 cm); L. of blade 32 1/4 in. (81.9 cm); W. 7 in. (17.8 cm); D. 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm); Wt. 1 lb. 4 oz. (567 g); Wt. of scabbard 3 oz. (85 g)
Classification
Swords
Culture
Italian
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of William H. Riggs, 1913
Accession Number
14.25.1030a, b
Art Historical Context
This elegant rapier with scabbard, crafted in early 18th-century Italy, showcases the masterful blend of function and artistry in European arms making. Forged primarily from steel for the blademeasuring an impressive 32¼ inches—the weapon features a leather-wrapped grip for secure handling and brass fittings that add both durability and subtle ornamentation. At just over a pound (with the scabbard weighing a mere 3 ounces), lightweight design (total length 39⅛ inches) reflects the era's emphasis on agility and precision in combat. By the early 1700s, rapiers like this one had become symbols o...