Sword Said Of Magistrate France, Second Empire

MAGISTRAT EPEE
France, Second Empire
Steel, gilded bronze and brass and leather
Total length: 90.5; Blade length: 73.5 cm
(one rod missing, restorations) 

Three-lobed cloverleaf pommel, stamped with the Imperial eagle, flanked by oak and laurel branches and topped by a steel riveting knob.
Gilded bronze floral columns alternating with burnished steel rods. Straight gilded bronze quillons, trimmed with short burnished steel baguettes, centered on the cruising knot of a diamond-polished burnished steel cabochon. Their asymmetrical ends feature a flowery bouquet on one and a scroll on the other. The joint bow is attached to the latter: it is made of a string and floche of faceted burnished steel beads. 
Openwork eagle-shaped keyboard flanked by a pair of steel baguettes. The reverse side is marked “déposé” in capital letters and the maker's mark “AB”. 
Ice-polished steel blade with triangular cross-section, etched with floral motifs and two Imperial eagles impaling a thunderbolt, enhanced with gold. Red felt tie.
Brown leather scabbard with gilded brass bolt and cap, cut and incised with foliate scrolls.

Text and photos © FCP CORIDON

Ref.LP4627