Saber Offered By Napoleon Bonaparte To Antoine Louis Popon Maucune

National award saber, from the Versailles Manufactory, given by the First Consul to the brigade leader Antoine Louis Popon MAUCUNE for the Battle of Marengo and the crossing of the PO: Guard in chased and gilded brass, straight branch ends with a shield-shaped plate held by a winged, flowered trumpet; the top of the shield is decorated with a blued steel plate on which is riveted a motif representing a flowered torch; shuttle-shaped earpieces, chased with winged thunderbolts; quillon inflected downwards ending with an animal's head; cap in the shape of a crook, chased with scales, foliage and pearls, ending with a lion's head; ebony fuse carved with scales, on both sides, and horizontal grooves on the sides. Blade gilded and blued in the third, with counter-edged, ending in a carp's tongue, signed on the heel, on the back: "Klingenthal". Blued steel scabbard, with four brass fittings, chiseled in high relief, openwork and gilded; the first is decorated with a shield in the center of which are a club and a lion's skin, the whole placed on a trophy of arms and flags; the second is decorated, in the center, with an oak wreath, and, on either side, with laurel branches and cut axes; the third represents a shield ending with lion heads, decorated in the center with a Phrygian cap on a radiant background, the whole placed on a trophy of flags and trumpets; the bouterolle, also decorated with trophies with oak leaves, ends with scales, dart in gilded and openwork brass; It is engraved between the first two fittings, on the front: "Given by the Pier Consul to L° Maucune Chief of the 3rd ½ Line Battalion - Battle of Marengo and Passage of the Po", and on the back: "Mire at Versailles Ente Boutet". Length 102 cm. This saber is identical to those given by the First Consul to the brigadier generals, but differs slightly in the shape of the scabbard's rivet. This model of saber, perhaps the most successful of the Versailles Manufacture by Boutet, was created at the time of the Days of 18 Brumaire and several were given on this occasion; subsequently, Bonaparte First Consul used this model again for the arms of honor of senior officers and generals. MAUCUNE Antoine, Louis, Popon, Baron de, general born in Brive on February 21, 1772, † in Paris on February 18, 1824. He began his career as second lieutenant, on February 1, 1786; lieutenant, in 1792; captain, in February 1794; he moved to the 46th battle, on February 23, 1794, which became the 39th line, in May 1796; he participated in the army of Italy, from 1794 to 1801; he served at Arcole; named battalion commander by BONAPARTE, on December 21, 1796; provisionally named brigade commander of the 39th line, on the battlefield, on March 29, 1799; served at Marengo, on June 14, 1800; confirmed in his rank of brigade commander, by order of October 21, 1800; wounded at Pozzolo, in December 1801; at the camp of Montreuil, in December 1803; in the 6th army corps under NEY, on August 31, 1805; served in Austria, Prussia and Poland, 1805/1807; Commander of the Legion of Honor, in December 1805; Brigadier General, in March 1807; Knight of the Iron Crown, in 1808; Baron of the Empire, September 10, 1808; fought in the Spanish and Portuguese campaigns, from 1808 to 1813; Divisional General, May 26, 1811; employed in the army of Italy, under Prince Eugène de BEAUHARNAIS, November 18, 1813 and in 1814; placed on inactive duty, June 20, 1814; Knight of Saint-Louis, October 5, 1814; admitted to retirement, October 21, 1818. From the Charles Marchal collection. Biennale des Antiquaires Paris 1978