{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O78518"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O78518/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM6181/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM6181/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM6181","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BG0770","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AD0122","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AD0121","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AM6179","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O78518/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O78518","accessionNumber":"M.2788-1931","objectType":"Hunting sword","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>This type of short civilian sword was known as a hanger, because it hung from the belt. Such swords were very fashionable in England in the 16th and 17th centuries. They  usually had short, curved blades and were widely carried when travelling or hunting.  Examples are often fitted with a distinctive staghorn grip.<br><br><b>Materials & Making</b><br>This sword was almost certainly made by one of the German cutlers from Solingen, who settled in Hounslow (now in Greater London) around 1629 and started a sword-making factory.  The unusual cap and scroll pommel (knob) is very characteristic of Hounslow work.  As with many London-made hilts (handles), the ornament consists of a  'dot and trellis' overlay in silver on a ground of artificially darkened steel.  This type of hilt  was fashionable from about 1635 until just after the Civil War of 1642-1646.<br><br><b>Trade</b><br>The blade was imported from Solingen, Germany, a celebrated blade producing centre.  Solingen cutlers used the orb and cross mark.  Some cutlers also used numbers or dates, as in this case,  1551.  This is not the date of manufacture. It is probably the date when the family of cutlers who made the blade first established themselves.","physicalDescription":"","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Steel blade, with staghorn grip, the guard inlaid with silver","categories":[{"text":"Arms & Armour","id":"THES48992"},{"text":"Sport","id":"THES48893"},{"text":"Europeana Fashion Project","id":"THES265804"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AM6181","2006BG0770","2006AD0122","2006AD0121","2006AM6179"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"58B (VA)","id":"THES49237"},"free":"","case":"CA3","shelf":"","box":"17"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Sword","id":""}],[{"text":"Hunting sword","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Solingen","id":"x34896"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"blade"},{"place":{"text":"Hounslow","id":"x29492"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"hilt"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1640","earliest":"1635-01-01","latest":"1644-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by G. H. Ramsbottom","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"84","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"13.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum, at hilt","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"10","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"at hilt","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions checked: Measured; 04/04/2000 by DW","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Marked on the blade with an orb and two crosses; engraved '1551', probably the date when the family business was first established","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":"A8877"},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Blade made in Solingen, Germany; hilt made in  Hounslow (now Greater London)","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nIn the 1620s German-born swordsmiths working in Hounslow began producing sword hilts for blades  imported from Germany. These hilts were characterised by their unusual cap and scroll pommels (knobs).","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}}],"partNumbers":["M.2788-1931"],"accessionNumberNum":"2788","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1931,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"North, European Swords","id":"THES50694"},"number":"72"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN1579","2019LR2900","2019LR1161","2019LU6029","2019LU2604"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-27","availableToBook":false}}