French First Empire Napoleonic Lion Pommel Sword GLAIVE Drum Major Tambour-Major

Description

French Lion Pommel
Glaive de Fantasie
Short Sword 1
st
First Empire attributed to Tambour-Major, Drum-Major of Infantry
This archaic lion head pommel style was popular as in the late 18
th
century and was notably used on foot officer Montmorency sabres of the French Revolutionary period. Similar style lion pommels are also seen on Marine Artillery and Sapper swords of the period.
The lion pommel along with the eagle pommel were also popular with Drum Majors of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic period who generally carried straight bladed swords or slightly curved sabres. These were suspended from a shoulder sling and generally have a single stud on the top scabbard fitting for this purpose.  There was no standardization or regulation pattern for these type swords during this period and the few surviving examples vary considerably.
The sword here most resembles a rare surviving example in the Museum of the Emperi (shown in the last image) which has a similar shape eagle pommel instead of lion but the same style reversed lion quillons and overall shape and size. Our example is especially interesting as it has a formidable double fuller straight blade of the same type used by Dragoon and Cuirassier officers of the period but in appropriate proportioned size for someone on foot.
HILT
Gilt Bronze or Brass with elegant curved opposing quillons ending in open mouthed lion heads.  The guard shape here was popular on the deluxe Marengo style swords of the Consulat and early Empire. Nice design relief carved fancy shield shape langets.
The grip is the finely checkered black dyed wood or horn type of French officer swords of the 1800-1815 era. It is in typical condition for this type showing surface rubbing with some stress cracks, loss and chips at the edges.
The rectangular area in the panel above the front langet is beautifully engraved with initials. One letter appears to be a ‘ D ‘ the other may be an ‘ F ‘ and there may be a third letter there but hard to tell.
The tang shows an aged patina and appears undisturbed. The hilt has become a little loose with age and there is a slight rattle as expected of an original antique that has not been remounted and tightened
BLADE
Straight decorated approximately 23.75 ”  blade with pronounced double fullers and central raised median   The blade has surface staining and islands of old dark surface pitting. The top part of the blade is etched with typical designs of military trophies and foliage. The designs have traces of gold gilt fill but no evidence it was ever blued. The blade may be signed with maker’s name or initials at the ricasso but that area is hidden by the langets and difficult to see distinctly.
SCABBARD
The matching brass mounted leather scabbard is in exceptional condition and was probably refreshed or restored at some time. Both brass fittings have matching foliate designs on their front. The mounting stud is in the shape of a lion head and similar in style to the quillons. The bottom fitting terminates in an interesting rectangular button style drag similar in shape to the quillon on the 1767/1790 style briquets
Overall this sword in scabbard is approximately 29.75 inches in length.
The Book shown in the final image which shows a similar Drum Major sword in the Emperi Museum,  is NOT included in this auction. It is shown for your reference only so you can see the similarities with the sword offered in this lot. Thank you
REFERENCES
Les Tresors de l’Emperi, L’armee de Napoleon. Vincent Bourgeot.
Page 153  sabre-glaive de tambour-major d’infanterie (image reproduced below)
DES SABRES ET DES EPEES Troupes a Pieds de Louis XIV a nos jours. Tome Troisieme.
Michel Petard. Page 109 figure 283 Sabre “a la ruche” note floating lion pommel, Page 145 fig. 364 Sabre de recompense accorde par le Directoire 1797 similar lion pommel
NAPOLEON ET SES SOLDATS l’Apogee de la Gloire 1804-1809, Collections Historiques du Musee de l’Armee.
Paul Willing. Page 14. Monture d’un couteau de chasse des equipages imperiaux.
LES SABRES.
Jean L’Hoste and Patrick Resek. Page 23 Sabre de Tambour-major vers 1810, page 66 figure 28 Sabre de Tambour-Major Consulat-Empire, page 70 figure 36 Sabre de Tambour-Major, debut Premier Empire, page 96 fig 101 Sapeur see stud om upper scabbard mount. Page 105 figure 125 Artillerie de Marine
Please note that the sale of this rare sword is final with no returns so please ask questions before you bid.
All images were taken in sunlight without enhancements.
SHIPPING
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Please note that to prevent damage to this rare sword it will be well packed in a sturdy oversized format so the shipping cost may seem expensive. I do not make money on shipping; any excess more than over your actual cost will be refunded by me through PayPal. I only use US Postal Service
and I only ship to the address that you officially use for your PayPal and eBay accounts. For international sales I ONLY ship through the eBay GLOBAL SHIPPING program. International bidders, please do not ask me before or after to ship the sword to you directly (outside of GLOBAL SHIPPING) or understate value as I will not do this. Also with GLOBAL SHIPPING I am not able to combine orders of separate lots in one shipment. Thank you for your understanding.
This sale is final, no returns so please ask your questions before bidding. Thank you.
Related searches. Premier Empire, 1er Empire, Napoleon Bonaparte, Artillerie, Sapeur,