ASTONISHING LUXURY CAVALRY OFFICER'S SABER "A LA CHASSEUR", POSSIBLY BELONGING TO MARECHAL NEY (1769-1815). Triple filigree stingray handle. Chased, engraved and gilded bronze mount. Oval pommel decorated with the face of Hercules with a short skirt chased with foliage and a flower. Guard with three branches and two shuttle-shaped auricles, finely chased with laurel branches and superimposed leaf branches. Ears with en suite decoration, enriched with a flower as on the main branch. Quillons in the shape of a fantastic animal head curved towards the tip. Curved damascus blade with flat back, counter-edge and hollow sides, embellished at the heel with a poliglazed cartouche inlaid with gilded letters and signs. Black chagrin-covered sheet-iron scabbard, with metal stitching on the oriental-style face, two laurel-chased bracelets and two brass rings. Bouterolle chased with stylized mistletoe. Iron sting. B.E. (accidents and missing basane on the scabbard). Late Empire - 1st Restoration. History: The statue of the Marshal on the Place de l'Observatoire in Paris was made by sculptor François RUDE, in 1852/1853. He is depicted during the 1815 campaign, wearing the saber shown here. This saber was probably given to the sculptor by the marshal's son, for a more realistic execution of the statue. Its workmanship is similar to that of BOUTET's arms from the Versailles factory. A saber of the same model, in the Musée de l'Armée, but with a different scabbard, is shown here as having belonged to the general commanding one of the four regiments of the Guards of Honor (Legacy LEPEL-COINTET). The saber shown here has a very unusual scabbard, as no other saber is known to be fitted with metal-stitched leather on a steel scabbard. Reference: It should be noted that this model would have been used by the horse-lighters of the King's Household during the First Restoration. M.Pétard, "Des sabres et des épées", volume 2, figurine 207 S.