Eresabel met schede van de vice-admiraal Th. F. van Capellen c. 1805

This is a sword and sheath, likely made by the sword cutler Brunn. The sword is a fascinating combination of steel, precious metal, and what looks like an ivory grip. You can see a series of decorative techniques at play: etching and gilding on the blade, fine carving for the eagle head, and detailed work on the scabbard. It must have taken many hours of expert labor to create. Consider the social context of this object. Swords like this were potent symbols of authority, and their expense and craftsmanship were intended to visually convey power. But as they moved further and further from the battlefield, swords became more about status, not about actual hand-to-hand combat. Here, the highly ornamented surface speaks more of wealth than warfare, highlighting the transition from practical weapon to decorative art object. In the end, it makes us reflect on the relationship between craft, class, and military might.