Object Type
Lord Clapham comes complete with sword and scabbard, indispensable items in a man's wardrobe. These miniature versions must have been deliberately remodelled to accompany the doll.
Materials & Making
The steel blade of the sword has been cut down from an old sword point. The handle has a gilt-copper wire binding and a gilt-brass stirrup guard. The scabbard is made of wood covered with black leather stamped with geometric designs and stitched up the centre back. The chape (the metal tip at the closed end of the scabbard) is gilt brass. There is a hole at the top of the scabbard where a hook (lost before acquisition) would have been attached.
Ownership & Use
A gentleman's sword of this period usually had a silver or cut steel hilt. Gilt-brass handles are normally found on military swords. In the period 1690-1700 swords were widely carried in Britain, even by servants. The cutting down and reusing of metal was common in the 17th century and swords were usually recycled as dirks (a kind of dagger) and knives. They were also shortened for use by young boys when they adopted miniature versions of adult dress after breeching (first wearing breeches). These, however, were attached securely to the scabbard so that they could not actually be drawn.
Physical description
Sword and scabbard made as accessories for the Lord Clapham wooden doll.
[Sword] Steel blade cut down from an old sword point, with a gilt copper wire binding and a gilt brass stirrup handle.
[Scabbard] The scabbard is made of wood covered with black leather stamped with geometric designs and stitched up the centre back. The chape is gilt brass. There is a hole at the top of the scabbard where a hook (lost before acquisition) would have been attached.
Place of Origin
London, England (made)
Date
1690-1700 (made)
Artist/maker
unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
[Sword] Steel, gilt copper wire and gilt brass
[Scabbard] Leather and gilt brass
Dimensions
[Sword] Length: 29.6 cm approx.
[Scabbard] Length: 23.2 cm approx.
Object history note
The doll is thought to have belonged to the Cockerell family, descendants of Samuel Pepys. The daughter of Pepys' nephew John Jackson(son of his sister, Pauline) married a Cockerell. The doll and its partner were named 'Lord' and 'Lady' of the family home in Clapham.
Historical significance: The doll and its partner are costume documents; their clothes being, in style, cut and material, perfect miniatures of the fashions of the late 17th century. Their importance is underlined by the almost total lack of other good visual source material for this period, whether pictorial or in the form of surviving garments. In particular the survival of accessories and the informal garments is extremely rare.
[Sword] Historical significance: The cutting down and reusing of metal was common in the 17th century. Swords were recycled into dirks and knives. They were also shortened for use by young boys when they adopted miniature versions of adult dress after breeching. These however were usually attached securely to the scabbard so that they could not actually be drawn. This miniature version must have been deliberately remodelled to accompany the doll.
Historical context note
Dolls were widely produced in the 17th century, although very few survive. It is most unlikely that these particular examples were the playthings of children. Their production is of a high quality; almost all the accessories survive and there is little wear and tear on the dolls and their garments. The dolls were most probably purchased for the amusement of adults, and as a decorative accessory to a home.
[Sword] A gentleman's sword of this period usually had a silver or cut steel handle. Gilt brass handles are normally found on military swords.
[Scabbard] It is very rare for the scabbard of a 17th century sword for a doll or child to survive.
Descriptive line
Lord Clapham's sword and scabbard, steel blade with gilt brass stirrup handle, scabbard of wood and leather with geometric designs, London, 1690-1700
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Hillier, Mary, Pollock's Dictionary of English Dolls, London: Robert Hale Ltd., 1982, 51, 202pp. ill
Labels and date
British Galleries:
These dolls were probably made for the amusement of adults at home, as were dolls' houses at this time. They were named 'Lord and Lady' of the family home in Clapham, London by their owners, the Cockerell family. The outfits of the dolls are perfect miniatures of London fashions of 1690 and 1700. She wears a mantua (gown) of Chinese silk over stays (a stiff corset), with an under-wired cap and high-heeled shoes. [27/03/2003]
Small sword
About 1690
SWORD AND SCABBARD
A sword was an essential part of a man's wardrobe. It was rarely used in polite society, but in the days before a police force, it might provide defence against thieves in the streets or when travelling between towns.
Steel with gilt-brass hilt, the blade cut down from a full-size point
Made in England
Purchased by public subscription
Museum no. T.847:t-1974 [14/11/2000]
Materials
Gold; Leather; Brass; Steel; Copper
Techniques
Hand sewing
Categories
British Galleries; Arms & Armour; Dolls & Toys
Collection code
T&D
