Design for a Smallsword Hilt
Not on view
This rare drawing gives us a glimpse of how an elegant sword hilt was custom designed for an individual client. On the left, the proposed hilt is seen in profile; on the right, its shell guard is shown from above. The notation on the lower right says: "The border and its design appear a little weak to me, but pay no heed to my opinion if it is not to your taste." The grammatically incorrect nature of the French indicates that the writer was someone with little formal education, perhaps the craftsman who was making the hilt or the merchant selling it.
Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.
