38 - An exceptional ceremonial sword presented by the city of Amsterdam to Marshal Oudinot in

An exceptional ceremonial sword presented by the city of Amsterdam to Marshal Oudinot in recognition of his benevolence toward Holland and the Dutch people during his command of the Holland Observation Corps and the subsequent occupation (1810–1811): Gold guard, rectangular pommel chiseled with foliage motifs, with rounded corners adorned with four diamonds; in the center is a larger diamond, which was later replaced by an oval aquamarine; cross formed by two truncated conical quillons with an oval cross-section, engraved with foliage, palm leaves, and arrows, and ending in a lion’s muzzle. Pommel in the shape of a bearded man’s bust viewed from the front, wearing a lion’s scalp, likely the demigod Hercules; shank covered with half-round lapis lazuli segments, alternating with gold segments forming a frieze of laurel leaves; at the top and bottom of the shank, a ring chased with foliage, set with five diamonds on the front (the lower one is missing a diamond on the far right). A straight Damascus steel blade, lenticular in cross-section at the heel, then with two grooves, ending in a pointed, scalloped tip in the center; the heel is engraved and damascened with gold on both sides with the same cartouche; the one on the front bears the inscription in gold letters: "DUCI REGIENSI VIRO FORTISSIMO – GRATA CIVITAS AMSTELODAMENSIS," the other: "Manufacture Impériale – D'Armes de Versailles." The scabbard is made entirely of gold, with slits adorned with cut-out motifs on a lapis lazuli background. The pommel features a lion with its left paw resting on a globe, on a gold background; below it is a coat of arms: the arms of France in gold, on a mother-of-pearl shield surrounded by a large garland of laurel leaves supporting a cross of the Order of the Legion of Honor in enameled gold; above, a heraldic helmet viewed from the front, surmounted by a ducal crown; below the coat of arms, two crossed marshal’s batons in gold, enamelled blue, adorned at the ends with a gold fleur-de-lis; below that, on a gold background, two dolphins crossing their tails; these three motifs are separated by four gold rings adorned with a star between two palms. Next are thirteen gold motifs, superimposed one above the other on a lapis lazuli background, representing laurel wreaths, each adorned in the center with a different motif: the first, an ancient helmet facing right; the second, an eagle’s head in profile, looking to the left; the third, a bee; the fourth, a horse’s head in profile, looking to the right; the fifth, a winged thunderbolt; the sixth, a lion’s muzzle; the seventh, a ducal crown; the eighth, a lion’s muzzle; the ninth, a winged thunderbolt; the tenth, a horse’s head in profile, looking to the left; the eleventh, a bee; the twelfth, an eagle in profile, facing right; and the last, an ancient helmet in profile, turned to the left; all these motifs are separated by a star framed by two palm fronds. Below, a military staff with lightning bolts on a gold background; a winged deity, standing against a lapis lazuli background, holding an oval shield adorned with a star at the top and bottom, and with her right arm tracing an “O” in the center; below that, on a gold background, two crossed cornucopias tied with a ribbon; and, finally, a large motif forming the shaft, depicting Neptune holding two reeds, surmounted by two anchors and a trident whose handle forms a caduceus. The back of the scabbard is inlaid with brown tortoiseshell along its entire length, held in place by ten gold rings adorned with a star between two palm fronds; at the top, there are two sturdier loops equipped with a slot for attaching the sword to the belt; The pommel is identical to the other side, featuring Neptune, the anchors, and the caduceus on a gold background. Blade length: 68 cm; scabbard length: 70.5 cm; guard width: 13 cm; total length: 86 cm Total gross weight: 970 g Thirteen diamonds approximately 7 mm in diameter; aquamarine 12.5 x 15.5 mm Early Empire period; the coat of arms underwent a minor modification during the Restoration. Very good condition. HALLMARKS: rooster (2nd-class departmental hallmark), 1809/1819; large departmental guarantee mark, a hand, 94 for Versailles. PROVENANCE: from the collection of Marshal Oudinot, which has since remained in his direct lineage. - This sword is depicted in a painting by Isidor PILS (1813–1875), in a half-length portrait of the marshal. This painter was the son of Marshal Oudinot’s orderly, François PILS, who was close to the marshal. Isidor painted several portraits. This painting is housed at the Musée de l’Armée. - 1889 International Exposition in Paris, Section V, Military Art. This sword is described on page 40, number 121. - This sword was displayed at the 1900 International Universal Exposition, Group XVIII, Land and Naval Forces. The official catalog, compiled by Germain BAPST, lists it as: "