Sword Of The Second Lieutenant, Standard-bearer, Bishop Of The Horse Grenadiers, Consuls' Guard

SABER OF SUB-LIEUTENANT STANDARD-BEARER ÉTIENNE FRANÇOIS LÉVÊQUE OF THE HORSE GRENADIERS OF THE CONSULAR GUARD, Consulate (1800-1803). 32216 Gilt bronze hilt. Five-branch guard composed of a main branch vertically striated with a central lozenge decorated with a gadrooned fleuron, a secondary branch in the form of a rooster's head ending in volutes and palmettes, and three secondary branches forming a shell at the front, each decorated at the top with a rooster's head, which curls back on itself to form a palmette with an acanthus leaf. The shell is openwork in the form of a spiderweb with a sandblasted background, on which a bursting bomb is molded in relief. Quillon in the form of an eagle's head. The pommel has a short tail decorated with a palmette surmounted by an octagonal crown of stars, topped with a lion's head in relief. The handle is made of wood covered in black waxed calfskin and inlaid with copper and gilt brass wire. The ferrule consists of a curved rod with a lower molding in the shape of rope. The curved, fullered blade has a ridged back ending in a fish's tongue shape and is 92 cm long. It is entirely Damascus steel. Near the ricasso is a rectangular cartouche with a gold background, bordered by two flat moldings and a beaded band, 4.2 cm high. Above it, on the front face, is a second cartouche with a matte gold background, 21 cm high, decorated with a shield with a polished gold background bearing the inscription "Garde Des Consuls Grenadiers à Cheval" (Grenadiers on Horseback) placed on a fasces with standards, trumpets, an oak wreath, and laurel branches. This decoration is left with a mirror-polished white finish. On the back, near the heel, is the same cartouche as on the front, 4.2 cm high. On the upper part, against a gold background, is a 22 cm high cartouche with a matte gold ground, featuring an oval medallion engraved and gilded with the intertwined initials "EFL" on a blued background. The medallion rests on a wreath of oak leaves, laurel branches, a fasces, and military trophies, all with a sheaf of wheat in the background. This decoration is left with a mirror-polished white finish. The back of the blade is engraved with the words "Manufacture de Klingenthal Coulaux Frères" on a gold ground. The scabbard is made of wood covered in black waxed shagreen leather with two large gilt bronze mounts with a matte ground and raised areas polished with agate. The chape is 14 cm long with a suspension ring, richly decorated in relief with geometric moldings, pearls, and laurel leaves. The end of the 65 cm long scabbard features the same decorations as the chape, plus medallions with military trophies (axe, oak leaf wreath, laurel branch and oak branch / mace and arrows tied together with a ribbon), and a series of alternating round medallions with palmettes and lozenge-shaped medallions with fleurons; the lower part represents molded rods tied together by two ribbons. Steel sword with a molded steel chape. Overall length: 108.5 cm. France. Consulate. Very good condition, the gilding remains intact with some soiling, the grip and scabbard leather are in perfect condition, some surface oxidation on the blade, slight surface oxidation on the chape. NOTE: Of the approximately 88 junior officers who served in the Horse Grenadiers Regiment of the Consular Guard, 16 sabers are currently known. Of the approximately 12 senior officers who served in the Horse Grenadiers Regiment of the Consular Guard, 7 sabers are currently known. BIOGRAPHY: Étienne François LÉVÊQUE was born in Koblenz in the Rhine and Moselle department. Mounted guide in the Army of Italy on 18 Frimaire, Year 5 (December 8, 1795), brigadier on 28 Thermidor, sergeant major on 4 Nivôse, Year 6 (January 13, 1800), admitted with his rank to the Consular Mounted Guard on 13 Nivôse, Year 8 (January 3, 1800). He was appointed sub-lieutenant standard-bearer on 4 Brumaire, Year 9 (November 14, 1809) by decision of the First Consul. He participated in the campaigns of Years 5, 6, and 7. HISTORICAL NOTE: The Consular Mounted Guard, during its existence between 1799 and 1804, comprised approximately one hundred officers, including 13 standard-bearers. These standard-bearers held the ranks of sub-lieutenant, second sub-lieutenant, or lieutenant.