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(page
43)
This and the following
fourteen swords may be
described as "in the French
manner, Louis XVI."
 86.
COURT SWORD French, 1780
Hilt steel carved in low
relief with equestrian
and unmounted figures,
scrolls, lion masks and
foliage, and architectural
details against stippled
gold background. On each
of the four areas of guard,
cavalryman as large central
figure, balanced by a
few appropriate details
- tents, panoplies, trees,
cannon, ammunition; the
horsemen are cuirassiers,
a classical figure, a
pandour with shield.
Pas d'âne non-functional.
Quillon as lion's head.
On knuckle guard, left,
drummer; right, amorino
playing soldier. The surface
of the olive- shaped pommel
shows on each face a single
large cavalryman. Rectangular
grip of silver wire: (a)
two strands oppositely
twisted large wire, (b)
nine strands twisted fine
wire.
Blade three-edged, plain,
highly polished. Scabbard
of polished black leather
without foundation; double
ring suspension; ferrules
en suite.
26.145.290
L. 97 (80.5) Wt.
323
Plate LXIV Reubell Benefaction
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 87.
COURT SWORD French, 1780
Similar to No. 89. Hilt
silver, formerly gilt,
chiseled in low relief
with military figures,
mainly equestrian, in
medallions surrounded
by trophies, scrolls,
leaves, and flowers, all
against stippled background.
Non-functional pas
d'âne, carved with
conventional laurel leaf
and berry motif, as also
quillons and knuckle guard.
Grip rectangular, of silver
wire and tinsel: (a) large
strand of wire wound with
wire-wound wire, (b) small
wire-wound wire, (c) small
twisted wire, (d) slightly
convex tinsel, (e) same
as (c), (f) same as (b).
Three hail marks: poinçon
of Henri Clavel (1780-1789);
probably date stamp for
1783; maker's mark unidentified.
On left of knuckle guard
at junction with pommel
recense mark decree of
1803 (1809-19); also on
posterior base of ricasso.
Blade three-edged, plain.
Scabbard of white shagreen
over wood; double ring
suspension; metal mountings
en suite; on upper ferrule
recense stamp as on hilt;
on reverse (left): LIGER
RUE COQUILLE. Chape missing.
26.145.323
L. 101 (84.5) Wt.
380.5
Plate LXV Reubell Benefaction
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(page
44)
 88.
COURT SWORD French, 1780
Hilt similar to that of
No. 89, except that steel
is not blued. On guard
and pommel medallions
with ribbon bows, scrolls,
nail-heads, buildings.
On guard and pommel in
medallions mounted warriors,
sculptured spiritedly.
On ricasso, left, drummer;
right, soldier with pipe.
Nonfunctional pas d'âne
which, with quillon and
knuckle guard, has nail-head
ornament. At middle of
knuckle guard trophy,
on left, with shield bearing
head of Christ (?); right,
bearing classical helmet;
from both depend small
Maltese crosses. Grip
of silver wire, tinsel,
and cut steel: (a) small
twisted wire, (b) twisted
wire-wound wire, (c) string
of cut steel beads, (d)
same as (b), (e) two strands
similar to (a), (f) flat
tinsel strip.
Blade three-edged; at base
gilded and etched, left,
with inscription in cartouche:
LIGER FOURBISSEUR DE s:
ALT. MSGR. LE DUC DE CHARTRE
ET COMTE DE CLERMONT,
RUE COQUILLIERE A PARIS;
right, in cartouche of
trellis work trophy in
medallion; above this,
forte blued over etching
of trophy and scrolls.
Scabbard of white shagreen
over wood; double ring
suspension; fittings en
suite with mounted warrior
in medallion, blank shields,
flowers, and floral scrolls.
26.145.291
L. 96 (80) Wt.
371
Plate LXVI Reubell Benefaction
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 89.
COURT SWORD French, 1780
Similar to No.86. Hilt
of blued steel carved
in low relief against
stippled gold background.
On guard and pommel medallions
depend from lion masks;
nearby are trophies, scrolls,
and flowers. At various
points appear equestrian
and unmounted military
figures in medallions,
minarets, ship, bird,
tents, foliage, knots,
and festoons. Non-functional
pas d'âne. Observe
high quality of gold background
stippling ("fish-roe"),
and note that stipple
of background of medallions
is much the finer. Square
grip of silver wire and
tinsel: (a) large strand
coiled wire-wound wire,
(b) small wire-wound wire,
(c) small twisted wire,
(d) narrow concave tinsel
strip with rolled edges,
(e) (f) as in (c) and
(b) respectively.
Blade three-edged; at base
gilded and etched: left,
cartouche with "soleil"
against hatched and scrolled
background; right, trophy,
also in cartouche, against
hatched background; above
this, blade ornamented
almost to point by alternate
blued and gilded parallel
longitudinal stripes.
Scabbard of white shagreen
over wood; double ring
suspension; fittings en
suite; on upper ferrule
medallion containing trophy
pendent from bow-knot;
surrounding it branches
of laurel and palm; on
reverse (left), on blued
shield, punched inscription:
PICHON, RUE ST. HONORE
A PARIS; on second ferrule
similar medallion, but
containing a rose, on
reverse scrolls. Lower
end of scabbard and chape
missing.
26.145.292
L. 101 (85) Wt.
362
Plate LXVII Reubell Benefaction
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(page
45)
  90.
COURT SWORD French, 1785
Hilt similar to that of
No. 88 except that, aside
from medallions, the decoration
consists entirely of scrolls,
leaves, and irregular
gold panels, raised and
chased in diaper pattern.
The medallions include
trophies, fleurs-de-lis,
interlinked L's, head
of king. Pas d'âne
non-functional. Grip rectangular
in section, bound with
silver wire: (a) two oppositely
twisted strands large
wire, (b) twisted small
wire, (c) six strands
plain small wire, (d)
as in (b).
Blade three-edged; at base
etched inscription gilded:
VIVE LOUIS LE XVI; trophy
of flags against hatched
background; above this,
forte blued and gilded
over etched fleurs-de-lis,
trophy, and scrolls. Scabbard
white shagreen over wood;
double ring suspension;
fittings en suite, lower
end of scabbard and chape
missing.
26.145.288 L. 97 (80) Wt.
359
Plate LXVIII Reubell Benefaction
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 91.
COURT SWORD French, 1785
Similar to foregoing except
that all medallions enclose
trophies. Pas d'âne
nearly large enough to
be functional. Grip rectangular,
of silver wire and tinsel:
(a) twisted wire-wound
wire, (b) braided fine
wire, (c) concave tinsel,
oxidized silver with tiny
gold rosettes, (d) same
as (b), (e) same as (a),
(f) fine twisted wire,
(g) concave tinsel of
silver-gilt with rolled
edges, (h) same as (f).
Blade three-edged.
26.145.289 L.
95.5 (78) Wt.
296
Plate LXIX Reubell Benefaction
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