Sabre Presented By Napoleon Bonaparte To Brigade Commander Antoine-louis Popon Maucune

Versailles Manufactory — Boutet Circa 1799–1801 Length: 102 cm Provenance: Charles Marchal Collection; Biennale des Antiquaires, Paris, 1978. Detailed Description: An exceptional national award sword, executed by the prestigious Versailles Manufactory under the direction of Boutet, and personally presented by First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte to Brigadier General Antoine-Louis Popon Maucune, in recognition of his heroic conduct at the Battle of Marengo and the crossing of the Po River. HANDLE: Chiseled and gilt brass guard with a straight branch ending in a shield-shaped plate supported by a winged trumpet. The shield bears a blued steel plate adorned with a flowering torch. Shuttle-shaped quillons decorated with winged thunderbolts. Curved quillon ending in an animal's head. The pommel is shaped like a crosier, chased with scales, foliage, and pearls, and terminating in a lion's head. The grip is made of ebony carved with scales and fluting. BLADE: Blued and gilded for one-third of its length, with a false edge, ending in a fish's tongue. Signed "Klingenthal" on the back. SCABBARD: Blued steel scabbard with four chased, openwork, and gilded mounts. The first mount bears a shield decorated with a mace and a lion's skin. The second is adorned with an oak wreath surrounded by laurels and axes. The third features a shield terminating in lion heads, with a radiant Phrygian cap in the center, on a trophy of flags and trumpets. The chape is decorated with trophies and oak leaves, ending in scales and an openwork spike. INSCRIPTIONS: Front of the scabbard: "Given by the First Consul to L° Maucune, Commander of the 39th Half-Brigade of the Line – Battle of Marengo and Crossing of the Po." On the reverse: "Manufactured in Versailles between Boutet." This saber, a prestigious model from the Versailles Manufactory, belongs to the series of ceremonial weapons personally awarded by Napoleon. It is one of the most refined, slightly distinct from the generals' model by the shape of the chape. A piece of immense historical and artistic importance, extremely rare in this condition and with a perfectly documented attribution. Sabre Presented by Napoleon Bonaparte to Antoine Louis Popon Maucune. Proantic Magazine https://www.proantic.com/magazine/sabre-offert-par-napoleon-bonaparte-a-antoine-louis-popon-maucune/