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Smallsword: HEN.M.259 & A-1933

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Current Location: Gallery 31 (Armoury)

Maker(s)

Hilt maker: Unknown (Hilt)
Blade maker: Unknown (Blade)

Entities

Categories

Description

Small sword, the blade of colichemarde type. The scabbard is covered with leather, and has silver mounts. The top suspension loop is engraved 'Feesey pallmell'.

Notes

History note: Mr James Stewart Henderson of 'Abbotsford', Downs Road, St Helen's Park, Hastings, Sussex

Legal notes

J.S. Henderson Bequest

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1933-03-16) by Henderson, James Stewart

Dating

18th Century, Mid
Production date: circa AD 1760

Note

The blade is of the so-called ‘colichemarde’ form – the section nearer the hilt is wide and strong and used for parrying your opponents sword. The lower section is narrow and tapers to the point making it very quick and fast when fencing. The leather covered scabbard has silver mounts, one marked: ‘Feesey/Pall Mall’ for Mathew Feesey (1703 – 69).

Components of the work

Mounts composed of silver
Sword composed of steel
Scabbard Cover composed of leather

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: Fessey pallmell
  • Location: On top suspension loop
  • Method of creation: Engraved

Identification numbers

Accession number: HEN.M.259 & A-1933
Primary reference Number: 19034

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Tuesday 6 May 2025

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Smallsword" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/19034 Accessed: 2025-12-06 03:26:48

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/19034 |title=Smallsword |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-06 03:26:48|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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