Imperial Honor Dagger Signed By Devisme In Paris

Made for His Majesty Emperor Alexander II of Russia
Paris, circa 1860–1870

This remarkable ceremonial dagger is the work of Louis-François Devisme, one of the most prestigious Parisian armorsmiths of the 19th century. The blade is signed “DEVISME À PARIS,” while the mount bears the dedication “TO HIS MAJESTY THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA.” The pommel features the crowned imperial cipher A II, corresponding to Alexander II (1818–1881), Emperor of Russia from 1855 to 1881. The guard is adorned with the Russian imperial double-headed eagle, and the entire piece is richly damascened in gold, with chiseling of exceptional quality.

Historical research shows that Devisme maintained official relations with the Imperial Court of Russia and was granted the title of Purveyor to the Court of His Imperial Majesty in 1869. Russian sources also indicate that he had an official representative in Saint Petersburg working for the imperial family.

The combination of the Devisme signature, the dedication to the Emperor of Russia, the initials “A II,” and the imperial coat of arms demonstrates that this is not an ordinary commercial weapon but a highly prestigious piece commissioned for Alexander II. To date, no other example bearing this same dedication has been identified.

Research is ongoing to locate any possible mention of this dagger in the inventories of the Russian imperial collections, particularly those at Tsarskoye Selo.

Suggested Price

€85,000

This estimate takes into account the piece’s exceptional nature, its explicit dedication to Alexander II, the Devisme signature, and its rarity. It may be revised upward if a direct documented provenance from the imperial collections is established.