Design for a smallsword hilt in a heavy neo-classical style, decorated with chains. The design for the guard of the smallsword is pasted below that for the hilt in the same album and its museum number is E.897:109-1988. The designs were drawn by an anonymous designer in about 1770. They are from an album of designs which date from about 1735-1820 and includes those for snuffboxes, scent holders, watches and watch cases, spoons, fans and fan mounts, small swords, and chatelaines (ornamental chains, pins, or clasps usually worn at a woman's waist, to which trinkets, keys, purses, or other articles are attached). The design was possibly for an elite client of the Court of Louis XV, King of France, from 1715 to1774, at Versailles, Paris. Aristocratic men carried light swords, usually of the smallsword type, for which this design is intended. Such swords were worn as part of a man's court dress at this period.

There is a close relationship between the contents of the album and known work by three Parisian goldsmiths, Jean Ducrollay (1710-1787), Pierre- François Drais (active 1761-1788), and Charles Ouizille (1744-1830) whose names appear on the first page of the album. This suggests that all the designs emanate from their workshops. Drais worked for the Court at Versailles as jeweller to both King Louis XV and Louis XVI. Ouizille worked in this capacity for Louis XVI. Most of the material dates from the period 1755-90.