Smallsword, known as a Mourning Sword
Unknown Artist
ca. 1790
Medium
Steel, textile
Dimensions
L. 38 in. (96.5 cm); L. of blade 30 3/4 in. (78.1 cm); W. 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm); D. 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm); Wt. 15 oz. (425 g)
Classification
Swords
Culture
British
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Jean Jacques Reubell, in memory of his mother, Julia C. Coster, and of his wife, Adeline E. Post, both of New York City, 1926
Accession Number
26.145.307
Art Historical Context
Step into the refined world of late 18th-century British's fashion with this striking *Smallsword, known as a Mourning Sword*ca. 1790). Crafted from steel with textile elements, this elegant weapon measures 38 inches overall, with a 30¾-inch blade, embodying the transition of swords from battlefield tools to symbols of social status and personal style. Worn by the elite as part of formal attire, smallswords featured slender, thrusting blades ideal for dueling or self-defense, their ornate hilts showcasing the owner's wealth and taste. The "mourning" designation hints at its poignant cultural ...