Rare court sword, hilt entirely in burnished steel chased on gold background with a branch and an openwork bridge, entirely decorated with crossbars, foliage and flowers, a medallion in the middle of each element chased with a piece of silverware or a trophy, spindle with square section chased with gold background in suite; triangular blade gilded and blued in third, signed on gold background: "Gueneau Md Fourbisseur à la Justice Rue Stt-Honoré vis-à-vis L'oratoire à Paris"; length 92.5 cm. (Without scabbard). Eighteenth century, circa 1770. Good condition.

Composed of several subsidiaries, the Drouot Group is a major player in the art market. Hôtel Drouot, located in the heart of Paris, has been the world's largest public auction center since 1852. 15 salerooms are available to more than 70 auction houses. The emulation generated by an annual offer of 230,000 artworks from 21 major specialities - from Antiquity to street art - attracts some 3,000 visitors every day. The Group's digital platform, Drouot.com, offers digital sales - Live auctions (live broadcasting and participation in auctions), Online-only auctions (dematerialised auctions) and Buy Now sales (sales of lots at fixed prices). Nearly 2 million items are offered annually by 600 auction houses. Auction news is reported every week in La Gazette Drouot, the leading weekly magazine for the art market and culture published by Auctionspress.