Thomas Del Mar - Arms & Armour

90
A VERY RARE FRENCH FIRST EMPIRE SABRE FOR AN
OFFICER OF THE CHASSEURS À CHEVAL OF THE
IMPERIAL GUARD, CIRCA 1810
with curved blade formed with a clipped-back point, cut
with a near full-length broad shallow fuller and a slender
fuller along the back-edge on each side, the former etched
over the lower portion on each side with a sun-insplendour,
the crowned Imperial Eagle within a laurel
wreath, neoclassical foliage, trophies and retaining traces
of gilding (light pitting), the back-edge with Klingenthal
Imperial arsenal inscription at the forte, brass stirrup hilt
stamped ‘Laurent’ beneath the knuckle-guard, comprising
bud-shaped quillon, lozenge-shaped langets engraved with
a crowned ‘N’ between a spray of laurel on the outer face,
knuckle-guard engraved with acanthus foliage, back-strap
and cap pommel decorated en suite, wooden grip with
later brass binding, in its original leather-covered wooden
scabbard with large brass mounts engraved with
neoclassical foliage and motifs, with engraved steel drag
and a pair of steel suspension rings (one replaced)
81.5cm; 32B in blade
Provenance:
Dr Raymond Wargnier, sold Sotheby’s Monaco, 23rd April
1990, lot 962.
For a similar sword see C. Ariès 1969, 4 fascicule, fig. 3.
£8000-10000
90
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