General Viala’s Officer’s Saber. From The Revolution / Italy / Egypt And The Campaigns Of The Empire.

Engraved and gilded brass mount, with a single arm on the outer side engraved with a military symbol (a helmet atop a bundle of flags); a crozier-shaped crown with a flat, oval-shaped end in a quarter-round profile, featuring interlaced and palmette engravings on both sides of the short tail. The handle features plain mother-of-pearl plates with flat bands engraved with scrollwork on the sides. Shell-shaped quillon. The half-guards, cut in a scalloped pattern, are chased with the head of an ancient warrior framed by foliage and surmounted by an acanthus leaf.
The blade is polished to a white finish, slightly curved, with a flat back; the outer face is engraved with the stages of Viala’s campaign in Egypt: “Gozzo; Alexandria; Battle of the Pyramids; Saint John of Acre; Heliopolis; Cairo.” 
The inner side is engraved with the dates of the period during which General Viala served as mayor of Rodez: “Gal VIALA” and “RODEZ 1811–1813.” These engravings were made using acid etching.
Wooden scabbard covered in black shagreen with metal stitching on the outer side and three brass fittings engraved in relief with stylized motifs of open flowers, arabesques, garlands of pearls, and acanthus foliage.
Very good condition; a significant portion of the original gilding remains.
Etched blade.
Brass inlays in relief with gilding.
France. First Empire.
Sale includes the saber only; for the belt, see the other listing.