151 - *A very rare sword belonging to a senior officer or general of the Constitutional Guard, with a hilt made entirely of finely chiseled and gilded brass, the pommel adorned along the rim with a band of pearls; on the front, an oval medallion bearing the royal coat of arms (only the three fleurs-de-lis), pommel with a palmette design, straight crossguard shaped like a quiver, the body of the crossguard engraved on the front with the royal crown, a branch imitating a bow, and a shaft shaped like a lictor’s fasces, engraved with two fleurs-de-lis where the ribbons cross, pommel shaped like a heraldic helmet, visor adorned with pearls (the ornate crest has almost disappeared); strong, straight, white-polished blade, with a flat back, flat at the heel, featuring a single groove along half its length, then a lenticular cross-section, length 79.5 cm; leather scabbard, two gilt brass fittings, chape engraved with laurel leaves, oval pommel chiseled with a fleur-de-lis; total length 100 cm. (Antique leather, but not original; a few pinholes on the blade).

*A very rare sword belonging to a senior officer or general of the Constitutional Guard, with a hilt made entirely of finely chiseled and gilded brass, the pommel adorned along the rim with a band of pearls; on the front, an oval medallion bearing the royal coat of arms (only the three fleurs-de-lis), pommel with a palmette design, straight crossguard shaped like a quiver, the body of the crossguard engraved on the front with the royal crown, a branch imitating a bow, and a shaft shaped like a lictor’s fasces, engraved with two fleurs-de-lis where the ribbons cross, pommel shaped like a heraldic helmet, visor adorned with pearls (the ornate crest has almost disappeared); strong, straight, white-polished blade, with a flat back, flat at the heel, featuring a single groove along half its length, then a lenticular cross-section, length 79.5 cm; leather scabbard, two gilt brass fittings, chape engraved with laurel leaves, oval pommel chiseled with a fleur-de-lis; total length 100 cm. (Antique leather, but not original; a few pinholes on the blade). Constitutional Monarchy period. Good condition. This sword, likely unique, is the only known example. PROVENANCE: Sotheby’s Monaco auction, April 23, 1990, from the collection of Dr. WARGNIER. This sword is listed in Volume III: *Des épées et des sabres* by Michel PÉTARD, no. 304. This model exists—without the royal coat of arms or fleurs-de-lis—and there are a few known examples from the Revolutionary period, generally attributed to generals or the guard of the Executive Directory.