Smallsword Hilt

Hilt Maker Matthew Boulton British
 Hilt Maker Josiah Wedgwood British

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 376

This hilt combines two of the most popular elements of English jewelry during the last quarter of the eighteenth century: highly polished cut-steel beads and blue-and-white cameos of Wedgwood jasperware. The industrialist Matthew Boulton (1728–1809) of Birmingham, who specialized in cut-steel articles, is known to have collaborated with Josiah Wedgwood (1730–1795) in combining jasperware cameos and steel settings to make buttons, watch fobs, and chatelaines. It is likely that this hilt originated in Boulton's factory.

Smallsword Hilt, Matthew Boulton (British, Birmingham 1728–1809 Birmingham), Steel, Wedgwood jasperware, British, possibly Birmingham

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Left side of hilt

Smallsword Hilt, Matthew Boulton (British, Birmingham 1728–1809 Birmingham), Steel, Wedgwood jasperware, British, possibly Birmingham
Smallsword Hilt, Matthew Boulton (British, Birmingham 1728–1809 Birmingham), Steel, Wedgwood jasperware, British, possibly Birmingham
Smallsword Hilt, Matthew Boulton (British, Birmingham 1728–1809 Birmingham), Steel, Wedgwood jasperware, British, possibly Birmingham
Smallsword Hilt, Matthew Boulton (British, Birmingham 1728–1809 Birmingham), Steel, Wedgwood jasperware, British, possibly Birmingham
Smallsword Hilt, Matthew Boulton (British, Birmingham 1728–1809 Birmingham), Steel, Wedgwood jasperware, British, possibly Birmingham
Smallsword Hilt, Matthew Boulton (British, Birmingham 1728–1809 Birmingham), Steel, Wedgwood jasperware, British, possibly Birmingham
Smallsword Hilt, Matthew Boulton (British, Birmingham 1728–1809 Birmingham), Steel, Wedgwood jasperware, British, possibly Birmingham

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