Beschreibung:

A FINE & IMPORTANT FRENCH GOLD-HILTED SWORD (GLAIVE) CARRIED BY FIELD-MARSHAL THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON, PRESENTED BY HIM TO LT. COL. SIR HENRY HARDINGE AS A SWORD OF HONOUR AND SAID TO HAVE BEEN MADE FOR THE EMPEROR NAPOLÉON I
BY BIENNAIS, ORFIRE RUE ST. HONORÉ NO. 283 À PARIS, PARIS TITRE MARK OF 1809
A FINE & IMPORTANT FRENCH GOLD-HILTED SWORD (GLAIVE) CARRIED BY FIELD-MARSHAL THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON, PRESENTED BY HIM TO LT. COL. SIR HENRY HARDINGE AS A SWORD OF HONOUR AND SAID TO HAVE BEEN MADE FOR THE EMPEROR NAPOLÉON I BY BIENNAIS, ORFIRE RUE ST. HONORÉ NO. 283 À PARIS, PARIS TITRE MARK OF 1809 With 28 ¾ in. (73 cm.) slender blade decorated on each side towards the hilt with a gold faux-damascened panel with counterfeit text in the Franco-Egyptian style, also etched on each side with a panel respectively stating 'This SWORD was worn by / The DUKE of WELLINGTON / from his entering into PARIS / July 1815 to 1817' and 'FROM The DUKE of WELLINGTON / TO SIR HENRY HARDINGE / AT THE REVIEW of The PRUSSIAN ARMY / NEAR SEDAN in FRANCE / 1817', elegant gold hilt with plain surfaces with raised segmented mouldings, the outer faces slightly convex, and straight quillons each with a fine lion-mask finial, in original leather scabbard with gold mounts en suite with the hilt, the locket signed by the maker within the recess for the outer langet, and with two gold rings for suspension Maker's mark of Martin-Guillaume-Biennais (1764-1843), goldsmith to Emperor Napoléon I.