Same subject
Napoléon: splendour of the Empire
Title
Bejewelled Dress Sword
Caption
Typical of court swords
Circa 1780-1790
Total length: 94.4cm.
Length of guard : 13,2 cm
Longueur of scabbard : 81,2 cm
From the Napoleonic collection of the Palais de Monaco
Private Collection
Info+
The guard, of gold, is entirely inlaid with old and rose-cut diamonds.
The pommel, in the form of a spiral-worked crown, surmounted by a circular cabochon
decorated with a central diamond enhanced by several rose-cut stones. The Tang,
formed from two, spiral decorated, shells fully garnished with high quality, uniformly
worked, diamonds, the larger stones set in four rows at the centre diminishing above
and below; the two shells being linked by two small bracelets similarly adorned.
The guard, single branch with finger-guard and curved cross-piece is also entirely
covered and decorated with diamonds and rosettes. The chain, open-work, spiral form,
decorated with a series of round diamonds and, on the edge with a further suite of
circular diamonds. The whole assembly mounted on a triangular, thirds gilt and
blued, blade engraved with a military trophy, a female figure brandishing a sword
in one hand, a crowned leaf branch in the other, and foliate tendrils. The scabbard
in vellum covered wood, the chape and bracelet decorated with matching sets of
diamonds mounted diagonally and fitted with two oval, hinged, suspension rings.
The ward in unadorned gold with spherical chape.
Crown : 70 diamonds for an approx. total of 10 carats.
Crosspiece : 16 principal diamonds for an approx. total of 10 carats.
The tang : about 320 diamonds for an approx. total of 30 carats
‘Le nœud de corps’ : 80 diamonds for an approx. total of 6 carats.
The guard-plate: 100 diamonds for approx. 20 carats.
Circumferences and edges: 42 diamonds, for approx. 17 carats
Photo Michel Bury
Date
1780
Credit line
Michel Bury/Photo12
Reference
MBY14A00_471
License type
Rights managed
Available size
69,8Mb (4,1Mb) / 20,2in x 13,4in / 6048 x 4032 (300dpi)