French Napoleonic Era Silver Hilted Senior Justice Official’s Sword

Description

During the 19th Century, the French developed many beautiful styles of swords that set the
standard for nearly every other Western country to imitate. Many of the 19th C US model
swords were almost exact copies of the French patterns. This was also a time in Europe
when nearly every gentleman and government official had a sword as a part of his
wardrobe. This example finer than most, with silver hilt (most were brass) consisting of
beautiful down-curved shell guard depicting Lady Justica with the Scales of Justice and the
Ten Commandments amid floral decoration in low relief, lion head reverse quillon, and
elegant scrolled knuckle guard connecting to the forward-canted scroll pommel, all with
beautiful decoration in low relief. Reeded Mother of Pearl slab grips with side straps
beautifully decorated with a series of interconnecting circles. Straight 32 1/2″ (82.5 cm)
hollow-ground blade of diamond section, the upper third blued and gilt with floral decoration;
maker’s mark “W” on the forte. Its scabbard, likely of leather with silver mounts decorated
ensuite, is sadly no longer present. The hilt and grips excellent; blade with some fading in
the blue and gilt decoration and minor rust marking. Overall length 37 3/4″ (95.9 cm). Such
a sword would be the type carried on formal occasions by the fictional prosecutor Villefort in
Alexandre Dumas’ famous novel “The Count of Monte Cristo”, and dates to the same
period.