OFFICER'S SWORD OF THE CENT-GARDES SQUADRON, Second Empire. 29603R

OFFICER SWORD OF THE HUNDRED-GUARD SQUADRON, Second Empire. 29603R

French model with a guard with a single branch decorated with a laurel wreath. Pommel shaped like an olive topped with an acorn, both sides adorned with a radiant sun with an imperial crown. Knuckle bow decorated with a "N", wooden grip entirely filigreed with brass, brass ferrule. Guard plate molded in relief with an imperial eagle with decorations of oak branches, laurel, and acanthus leaves. Quillon shaped like a palmette. Scarlet cloth tie. Triangular blade signed at the tang "VAJ & I", length 73.6 cm.
Black varnished leather scabbard with two brass fittings.

France.
Second Empire.
Good condition, gold plating missing, slight oxidation on the blade, scabbard fittings not original, tie replaced at a later date.

NOTE:
An identical sword with a white lacquered scabbard is attributed to Lieutenant Verly before 1861, published in the magazine "LA GIBERNE" issue 12, year 1912 page 189; it was displayed in the exhibition "Hundred-Guards for an Emperor, the elite squadron of Napoleon III", which took place from March 6 to May 2, 2004 at the Museum of Historical Figurines in Compiègne, under number 155, it is reproduced on page 110 of the book "Hundred-Guards for an Emperor" published for this exhibition.