Smallsword with Scabbard 1773 - 1774

Curator: I see power. Opulence, even. What’s this glittering thing, a scepter perhaps? Editor: Not quite. What we have here is a smallsword with scabbard, crafted around 1773-1774, currently residing here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its maker is listed as Master GG. Predominantly metal and gold, it represents more than just weaponry. Curator: Oh, "smallsword," so it’s deadly but petite. Look at that hilt, practically dripping gold! It's almost cartoonish in its excessiveness, like a prop from some opera about a ridiculously wealthy villain. Editor: The craftsmanship signifies its context. These weren't tools for battle anymore, but declarations of status, potent signifiers during the twilight of the ancien régime. Think about the class structures, the inequality... each glint of gold almost feels like a taunt. Curator: Taunt is an interesting word. It DOES scream arrogance. Did people actually wear this? Did they like…duel with it? Editor: Primarily ceremonial, though capable of being used in a duel, yes. Think of it as elaborate jewelry, reflecting the Baroque period's extravagance. What statements were they trying to make? Who were they trying to intimidate? Curator: Right. Intimidation. You're not exactly going to charge into a revolution wielding something that delicate, are you? This smallsword speaks of a world teetering on the edge. So many other possible futures where these weapons simply…vanished. And, I can’t lie, I kind of love it for that reason. Editor: It's a relic, not just of craftsmanship but of a complex societal tapestry. Examining it now lets us explore ideas about precarity, power and social identity through an intersectional lens. Curator: Exactly! It’s history distilled into shimmering metal and now transformed into something beautiful and dangerous. I love how a "useless" object like this can show us so much.