Congressional Presentation Sword with Scabbard of Colonel Marinus Willett (1740–1830)
Details
- Palette
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Select a color to find related artworks.
- Dimensions
- sword L. 39 5/8 in. (100.6 cm); scabbard L. 33 1/4 in. (84.5 cm)
- Origin
- French, Paris
- Department
- Arms and Armor
- Holding institution
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Image provider
- metropolitan-museum-of-art
- License
- CC0-1.0
- Credit
- Bequest of George Willett Van Nest, 1916
Art Genome Taxonomy
11 tags
Visual Qualities
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Highly Ornamented Visual · 99%
The hilt, blade, and scabbard fittings are densely covered with raised ornament, foliate decoration, borders, and medallion-like elements.
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Curvilinear Forms Visual · 96%
The sweeping knuckle guard, oval pommel, scrollwork, and curved decorative elements produce a strong curvilinear vocabulary.
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Symmetrical Visual · 91%
The hilt is organized around a central axis, with balanced guard, grip, pommel, and decorative elements.
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Shiny/Glossy Visual · 96%
Polished metal surfaces and gilded details create conspicuously reflective highlights across the hilt, blade, and scabbard mounts.
Medium and Techniques
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Relief Visual · 89%
The hilt and fittings contain visibly raised, dimensional ornamental work rather than only painted or printed decoration.
Time Periods
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18th Century Art Metadata · 99%
The sword is hallmarked for 1785–86, placing it in the eighteenth century.
Geographic Regions
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French Art Metadata · 99%
The catalog identifies the maker as French, recorded in Paris, and gives the place of origin as French, Paris.
Materials
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Steel Both · 99%
Steel is listed in the catalog and is visibly present in the blade and structural components.
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Silver Both · 95%
Silver is listed as a material, and bright silver-colored metal is prominent in the hilt and scabbard mounts.
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Gold Both · 95%
Gold is listed as a material, and extensive gold-colored decoration is visible on the blade, grip, guard, and scabbard fittings.
Antiquities, Artifacts, and Religious Objects
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Arms and Armor Both · 99%
The Metropolitan Museum classifies the object as a smallsword with scabbard, and the image clearly shows an ornate sword and sheath.
Source & rights
C. Liger. Congressional Presentation Sword with Scabbard of Colonel Marinus Willett (1740–1830). The Metropolitan Museum of Art.