Presentation Smallsword with Scabbard of Captain W. E. Cracraft
hallmarked for 1797–98
Medium
Gold, enamel, steel, wood, vellum
Dimensions
L. 38 3/16 in. (97 cm); L. of blade 31 1/2 in. (80 cm); Wt. 14 oz. (396.9 g); Wt. of scabbard 2 oz. (56.7 g)
Classification
Swords
Culture
British, London
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Stephen V. Grancsay, 1942
Accession Number
42.50.35a, b
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
This stunning presentation smallsword with scabbard, crafted the esteemed London goldsmith James Mor and hallmarked for 179798, was a lavish gift for Captain W. E. Crac. Measuring nearly 38 inches overall with a 31½-inch steel blade, it weighs a delicate 14 ounces—light enough for elegant dueling or ceremonial display. The hilt gleams in gold enriched with colorful enamel, while the scabbard combines wood and vellum for refined finish, showcasing the pinnacle of British luxury metalwork during the late Georgian era. Smallswords like this evolved from military rapiers into fashionable officer sidearms and symbols of gentility by the 1790s, amid Britain's naval campaigns against revolutionary France. Presentation pieces, often commissioned for valor or promotion, blended functionality with artistry; Morisset's expertise in gilded and enameled hilts elevated them to jewels of the Arms and Armor world. The intricate techniques—hallmarking for authenticity, translucent enamels over gold—highlight London's dominance in high-end swordmaking. Today, this treasure resides in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Arms and Armor Department, a 1942 gift from Stephen V. Grancsay, inviting us to admire how 18th-century Brits fused warfare, status, and splendor.