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Plug-bayonet: M.5-1956

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An image of Plug-bayonet
An image of Plug-bayonet
Current Location: Gallery 31 (Armoury)

Maker(s)

Production: Du Cellier, Abraham

Entities

Categories

Description

Plug-bayonet with boxwood grip of baluster form set in brass mouldings, short up-curving quillons and shell-shaped blade guard of brass, the steel blade etched and with gilt inlay.
Inscribed with the maker's name and address on one side in French and in Dutch on the other; as follows: Abm Du Cellier/md Fourbisseur/français dans/Le Kalverstraat/vis a vis/Le Cloître/à Amsterdam: Abm Du Cellier/mE Svaardviger/an der) Kalverstraat/set yas over/...Kloster/hat Amsterdam.

Notes

History note: Formerly in the Baron de Cosson Collection

Legal notes

Given by A.J. Hugh Smith through the National Art Collections Fund

Measurements and weight

Height: 47.5 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1956-11-22) by Smith, Arnold John Hugh

Dating

18th Century, Early
Circa 1700 CE - 1730 CE

Note

Early firearms were not always completely reliable and took time to reload. Bayonets were developed early on to convert a longarm, into a formidable weapon with which to fight the enemy hand to hand. This type of bayonet was pushed into the muzzle of a gun but later example were made that fitted to the side of the barrel so that it was possible to fire it as well as use the bayonet.

Components of the work

Grip composed of boxwood
Blade Inlay composed of gold
Blade composed of steel
Blade Guard composed of brass (alloy)
Mountings composed of brass (alloy)
Blade Decoration

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: Abm Du Cellier/md Fourbisseur/français dans/Le Kalverstraat/vis a vis/Le Cloître/à Amsterdam
  • Location: On blade
  • Method of creation: Inscribed
  • Type: Mark
  • Text: Abm Du Cellier/mE Svaardviger/an der) Kalverstraat/set yas over/...Kloster/hat Amsterdam
  • Location: On blade
  • Method of creation: Inscribed
  • Type: Mark

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: M.5-1956
Primary reference Number: 19251

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 18 December 2023

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) "Plug-bayonet" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/19251 Accessed: 2025-12-10 13:29:43

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/19251 |title=Plug-bayonet |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-10 13:29:43|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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