252 - France, Second Empire (1852–1870).

France, Second Empire (1852–1870). Sword of a civil servant or government official. Gilded cast brass mount; pommel stamped with vine leaves; tang chiseled with friezes of oak leaves and a re-drilled central cartouche. Tang with mother-of-pearl plates featuring two lateral grooves and a quillon terminating in an acanthus leaf. Symmetrical hilt with a central decoration of an eagle perched on a thunderbolt, flanked by oak and olive branches. Scarlet woolen cord present. White blade with three cutting edges, undecorated. Black leather scabbard with two gilt brass fittings, cut and chiseled; the pommel features an egg-shaped button. No maker’s mark or hallmark. In its original condition as found, never previously in a collection. 89 cm (Blade 75 cm). (Signs of wear and normal use; the tip of the scabbard and the pommel are missing; approximately 20 cm missing; a beautiful sword; in good condition). Provenance: Owned by Anatole FRANCE (1844–1924), “La Bechellerie” in Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire 37540, Indre-et-Loire (Dept. 37). Anatole FRANCE lived there from 1914 to 1924. He purchased it in October 1916.