{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O97757"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O97757/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BT1002/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BT1002/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2008BT1002","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2008BT1001","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2008BT1000","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2008BT0999","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2008BT0998","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2008BT0997","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2008BT0996","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2008BT0995","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O97757/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O97757","accessionNumber":"M.17&A-1978","objectType":"Sword","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"From around 1640, light swords with short, flexible, pointed blades appeared in response to new fencing techniques that emphasised thrusting at speed. They were worn increasingly with civilian clothes as 'small swords', offering a means of self-defence but largely denoting status for the well-dressed gentleman.\r\n\r\nSmall swords were items of male jewellery. By the 1750s, their elaborate gold and silver hilts, mounted with precious stones and fine enamelling, were the products of the goldsmith and jeweller rather than the swordsmith. They made fitting rewards for distinguished military and naval service. With their blades tucked away inside scabbards, it was their ostentatious and expensive hilts that carried their thrust.\r\n\r\nBy tradition this sword belonged to Charles Middleton, 1st Baron Barham (1726-1813), whose long career included service in the Seven Years' War (1756-63) and acting as First Lord of the Admiralty during the Trafalgar Campaign (1805). In 1757 the Assembly of Barbados awarded Middleton '100 pistoles ... to buy him a sword for taking a French privateer infesting the coast of the island.'","physicalDescription":"Court or dress small sword and sheath","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver gilt set with diamonds rubies and emeralds","categories":[{"text":"Arms & Armour","id":"THES48992"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2008BT1002","2008BT1001","2008BT1000","2008BT0999","2008BT0998","2008BT0997","2008BT0996","2008BT0995"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES404001"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"91M (VA)","id":"THES49137"},"free":"","case":"80","shelf":"2","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Small sword","id":""}],[{"text":"Sheath","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1757","earliest":"1752-01-01","latest":"1761-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"By tradition this sword belonged to Charles Middleton, 1st Baron Barham (1726-1813), whose long career included service in the Seven Years' War (1756-63) and acting as First Lord of the Admiralty during the Trafalgar Campaign (1805). In 1757 the Assembly of Barbados awarded Middleton '100 pistoles ... to buy him a sword for taking a French privateer infesting the coast of the island.'\n\nHistorical significance: Presented to Vice-Admiral Charles Middleton by the Assembly of Barbados for capturing a French privateer","historicalContext":"From around 1640, light swords with short, flexible, pointed blades appeared in response to new fencing techniques that emphasised thrusting at speed. They were worn increasingly with civilian clothes as 'small swords', offering a means of self-defence but largely denoting status for the well-dressed gentleman.\r\n\r\nSmall swords were items of male jewellery. By the 1750s, their elaborate gold and silver hilts, mounted with precious stones and fine enamelling, were the products of the goldsmith and jeweller rather than the swordsmith. They made fitting rewards for distinguished military and naval service. With their blades tucked away inside scabbards, it was their ostentatious and expensive hilts that carried their thrust.","briefDescription":"Court or dress small sword and sheath, the hilt silver gilt set with diamonds rubies and emeralds, England, ca.1757","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["M.17-1978","M.17A-1978"],"accessionNumberNum":"17","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1978,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Small sword","Sheath"],"assets":["2019LN6392","2019LN4989","2019LT6250","2019LT4879","2019LU5934","2019LX0914","2021MV1650"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-20","recordCreationDate":"2004-04-05","availableToBook":false}}