Sword

Object/Artifact

Historic Hudson Valley

Name/Title

Sword

Entry/Object ID

MP.94.726 a-b

Description

A) Undecorated blade, straight and evenly tapered. The hilt is gilded brass, cast in three pieces: the grips, the pommel, and the guard. The grip is molded with oak leaf and acorn motifs and with acanthus leaves. Both sides have a novel medallion bearing an American eagle in high relief. The pommel which is actually a nut securing the tang of the blade is shaped like a pineapple. The guard consists of two scrolled quillons decorated with leaf motifs and two shield shaped langets; the reverse (left) shield is plain except for a pebbled surface and raised borders. The obverse shield (right side) has a raised border of leaves. B) The scabbard is brown leather (may have been black at one point) with a brass tip and throat with a frog stud on the obverse side. It is undecorated.

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

Unknown

Attribution

Maker

Date made

circa 1840

Other Names and Numbers

Other Numbers

MP.94.726 A-B

MP.94.726a-b

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Overall

Height

1 in

Width

4 in

Length

30-3/4 in

Dimension Notes

Display Dimensions: 1 x 4 x 30 3/4 in. (2.5 x 10.2 x 78.1 cm)

Material

Leather, brass, Stainless steel

Condition

Notes

Remarks: Details of condition: Scabbard is in bad shape; it is in danger of ripping apart in two places; the color is badly faded and the brass fixtures are scratched, dented, and beginning to corrode. The blade is bent.

General Notes

Note Type

Curatorial Remarks

Note

The workmanship on this piece is shoddy and it is not engraved where it should be. Also the blade appears to be made of stainless steel. It is quite possible that this piece is a replica of the 1840 medical staff sword made at a much later date.

Note Type

StorageNote

Note

Home Location: Historic Hudson Valley, Montgomery Place, Centennial Bedroom