Staff Officer's Sword, Vendémiaire Year XII

Staff Officer's Sword, Model of 1 Vendémiaire, Year XII (1st Vendémiaire, Year XII), Consulate/Empire period. Chiseled cast bronze hilt. Finely chiseled plumed helmet pommel facing left. Joint arch terminating at its upper part in a fantastic animal head and, in the center, a diamond-faced prism flanked by a ring of leaves. Grip entirely filigreed. Chiseled guard knot in the form of an antique helmet. Quillons decorated with foliate motifs at the ends. Lyre-shaped guard plate, notched at the front with a palmette at the rear, and molded around the edge. Straight, single-edged blade, formerly blued and gilded for one-third of its length, engraved with trophies and flowers. It is signed at the ricasso, "J. Spol, cutler in Metz," within a cartouche. Length 96 cm (blade 79.5 cm). Patina of age, the filigree very slightly relaxed, otherwise in good condition.