CEREMONIAL SWORD French, Paris 1774, maître Laurent Dépéé. Silver hilt, composed of cast and forged parts, parcel-gilt. Olive-shaped pommel, rivet head, the knuckle guard ending in the grip base, short quillon, two decorative grip hooks, guard plate consisting of kidney-shaped halves; maker's mark Laurent Dépéé and "L" with a crown on top = Paris 16.7.1774. Symmetrically-applied decoration, medallions with musical instruments, garlands. Handle wrapped with original silver wire. Blade with triangular cross-section (L 70.3 cm), etched decoration, blued and gilt. L 86.7 cm. The ceremonial sword on offer is in the style of Louis XVI and of excellent quality, and was made by the goldsmith Laurent Dépéé, who was accepted as a master craftsman in Paris in 1768 and can be traced back to 1793. Cf. Henry Nocq: Le Poinçon de Paris, 1927, p. 66. La Datation de l'Orfèvrerie Parisienne sous l'Ancien Régime, 1995, Jean Baptiste Fouache 1774-1780.