{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O78591"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O78591/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AH0226/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AH0226/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AH0226","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2014HF7786","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AH0225","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AH0224","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JV2675","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O78591/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O78591","accessionNumber":"M.472-1936","objectType":"Sword hilt","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>This basket-hilt of blackened iron encrusted with silver is of a form known in the early 17th century as an 'Irish' hilt.  At that period 'Irish' also meant the Highland Scots, who were celebrated for using a basket-hilted broadsword of similar type. The guard, which protects the hilt,  and the pommel, which acts as a counterweight to the blade, are heavily overlaid with silver flowers and foliage. This was a characteristically English type of decoration at this period. The blade is engraved and inlaid in gold with religious mottoes in Latin and the royal arms of James I. The design includes a crowned S and an orb and cross - devices used by the cutlers of Solingen.<br><br><b>Trade</b><br>The blade is also stamped with a cutler's mark - a unicorn's head. This mark was used by Clemens Horn (1580-1630), one of the most prominent Solingen cutlers. Solingen, in central Germany, had a very large export trade and supplied specially commissioned blades.<br><br><b>People</b><br>A number of similarly decorated blades have been recorded, including one in Windsor Castle dated 1617 and traditionally said to have belonged to James I.","physicalDescription":"The hilt was removed from what was left of the blade and refitted to the blade from M.54-1947, probably on  acquisition of the latter sword in 1947 which had a much later, 19th century cast bronze hilt.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Iron, with silver incrustation","categories":[{"text":"Arms & Armour","id":"THES48992"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AH0226","2014HF7786","2006AH0225","2006AH0224","2017JV2675"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"56E (VA)","id":"THES49241"},"free":"","case":"CA9","shelf":"","box":"24"},{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES337880"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Sword hilt","id":"x47769"}],[{"text":"Fragment of sword blade","id":""}],[{"text":"Fragment","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1600-1625","earliest":"1600-01-01","latest":"1625-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by W. G. Ullathorne","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"17","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"12.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"11.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Hilt displayed with blade M.54:1-2-1947","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Made in England","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"displayed with blade - M.54:1-1947; Arms and armour\n\nArms and armour","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"A.R.E. North, <u>European Swords</u>, V&A, cat. 68"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nSWORDS AS FASHIONABLE ACCESSORIES\nSwords reflected the status and wealth of the wearer.  They were as much masculine jewellery as weapons. The military ornament and plain blade of the rapier indicate that it might have belonged to an officer.  In contrast, the elaborate inlaid and engraved decoration on the sword blade, suggests a luxury object. The royal arms of James I may indicate that it was one  of a batch of high-quality, imported blades supplied to the king and probably intended as gifts to prominent courtiers.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}}],"partNumbers":["M.472-1936","M.472A-1936"],"accessionNumberNum":"472","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1936,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Sword hilt (M.472-1936)","Fragment of sword blade (M.472A-1936)","Hilt (M.472-1936) fitted to Blade (M.54:1-1947)"],"assets":["2019LN0704","2019LP2203","2019LR4175","2019LV5670"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-27","availableToBook":false}}