'Set the font variant.  Values are: \'normal\' or \'small-caps\'.'

def set_variant(self, variant):

    if (variant is None):
        variant = rcParams[u'font.variant']
    if (variant not in (u'normal', u'small-caps')):
        raise ValueError(u'variant    must    be    normal    or    small-caps')
    self._variant = variant
