Lot n° 39
Estimation :
120000 - 150000
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A very beautiful and elegant ceremonial full-dress sword bel - Lot 39
A very beautiful and elegant ceremonial full-dress sword belonging to Marshal Oudinot,
of antique design, with the following hilt:
Finely chased and gilded brass guard; the body knot features two large flanges in the shape of hexagonal shields, the front one chased with a lion’s muzzle in the center, surrounded by a
silver wreath of flowers, applied and adorned with two stars; the rear panel, plain, is engraved
with two bands around the perimeter and bears the signature: “Manufre – Imple – à Versailles – Boutet”;
crossguard with two truncated conical quillons, oval in cross-section, chiseled on each side with
staff drums, and, along the outer edge at the tip, a frieze of laurel leaves; oval
pommel with twelve fins, surmounted by a leaf-decorated knob; the upper part of the fins bears
a silver crown chiseled with laurel leaves and four fleurons; at the base of the
pommel, a frieze chiseled with fourteen fleurons; wooden tang entirely covered with
fluted mother-of-pearl plates.
Straight Damascus blade, with a lenticular cross-section, plain at the heel, then with a double groove, ending
in a central point shaped like an accolade; length 70.3 cm.
Scabbard with four sets of fittings and struts in chiseled and gilded brass, forming three slits covered with mother-of-pearl on both sides. The first set of fittings bears, in the center, two rings for the sword strap; it is adorned with a frieze of flowers, followed below by a hexagon adorned, at the center, with a silver fleur-de-lis and, around it, a serpent biting its tail, also in silver; in the four corners, a palmette; below, a band engraved with three stars. The second, adorned at the top and bottom with the same three-star band, features in the center a hexagon with a palmette, decorated in the center with the profile bust of a bearded figure, wearing a helmet—probably the god Mars—surrounded by a silver laurel wreath with two fleurons, and on either side the same three-star bands. The third is identical, with the silver laurel wreath in the center, and in the middle a horse’s head in profile, looking to the left. The pommel features, in its upper section, the same decoration as that of the first fitting, with, in the center, the silver fleur-de-lis surrounded by a serpent biting its tail, and below it nine rows of large stylized scales; it ends with acanthus leaves and two fleurons, a band with fine vertical striations, and a double heel. The back of the scabbard features the same decoration as on the fittings, without the gilded brass and silver appliqués.
Total length 85.5 cm; width of the guard 11.8 cm.
Early Empire period. Very good condition.
PROVENANCE: from the collection of Marshal Oudinot, which has since remained in his direct lineage.
- This is the sword depicted in the painting of Marshal OUDINOT in full marshal’s regalia, commissioned by Emperor Napoleon I in 1809 for the Hall of Marshals at the Tuileries and painted by Robert LEFÈVRE. This painting is currently housed at the Palace of Versailles.
- This sword was exhibited at the 1900 International Exposition, Group XVIII, Land and Naval Forces. The official catalog, compiled by Germain BAPST, listed the sword under the designation “No reproduction” at number 857 on page 94.
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