A herald sword and baton used during the Coronation ceremony, after a drawing by Jacques-Louis David and Jean Baptiste Isabey, the sword by Versailles-Boutet manufactory, circa 1804
Estimate
200,000 - 400,000 EUR
Lot Details
Description
the sword featuring a fluted ebony grip with a silver-plated, almond-shaped plaque adorned with winged flames; the hilt with two cross guards decorated with foliage; a rain-guard etched with geometric motifs; a plain blade; and a wooden scabbard, mounted with gilt-bronze and lined in red velvet, ornamented with laurel and palmette leaves.
Long. 98 cm, larg. 12 cm ; Length 38 ½ in, width 5 in
The baton clad in silk velvet embroidered with bees, topped with a crown known as 'Charlemagne.'
Long. 76 cm, diam. 4 cm ; Length 30 in, diam. 1 ¾ in
The baton
Herald capitain Michel Duverdier (1758–after 1830)
Binoche et Giquello, Importants souvenirs du Maréchal Ney, des ducs d’Enghien et des princes de la Moskova, 20 June 2012, lot 52.
The sword
Ordered to Nicolas-Noël Boutet (1761-1833) at Versailles, invoice dated 18 Brumaire an 13 in the National Archives (9 November 1804)
Herald capitain Michel Duverdier (1758–after 1830)
Aux Armes de France, Charles Marchal until 1982
Biennale des Antiquaires, 1994, Bernard Croissy.
Expertised by Jean-Pierre Duchiron (1953-2011), guns and historical souvenirs expert who ceretified this sword in a valuation given to the client before 2002.
Le Sacre de Napoléon, 2022, exhibition catalogue, Chapelle des Jésuites de Saint-Omer, 18 June-25 September 2022, ill. p. 16
P.-J. Chalençon, Napoléon, La collection, Paris, 2019, ill. p. 81
La collection Pierre-Jean Chalençon - Napoléon : L’empereur sous la verrière du Grand Palais, Paris, 2018, catalogue for the 30th Biennale Paris, 8-16 september 2018, p. 35
P.-J. Chalençon, B. Topping and R. Hull Etling, Napoléon: An Intimate Portrait, Floride, 2005, exhibition catalogue, 2005-2011, ill. p. 32
C. Vital (dir.), Napoléon Bonaparte et la Vendée, Paris, 2004, exhibition catalogue, conservation départementale des musées de Vendée, 1 may - 17 october 2004, ill. p. 291
B. Croissy (dir.), Quand Bonaparte devint Napoléon, Paris, 2002, exhibition catalogue, Hôtel de ville de Wasquehal, 31 january - 22 february 2004, p. 38, fig. 35
G. Gengembre, Napoléon : L'Empereur immortel, Paris, 2002, ill. p. 60
Treasures of the Emperor and Imperial France : The Pierre-Jean Chalençon Collection, Melbourne, Villa Alba Museum, 1999, p. 19, fig. 137
Related literature:
D. Chanteranne, Le Sacre de Napoléon, Paris, 2004
Both pieces
La collection Pierre-Jean Chalençon - Napoléon : L’empereur sous la verrière du Grand Palais, 30th Biennale Paris, Grand Palais, 8-16 september 2018
Le Sacre de Napoléon, Chapelle des Jésuites de Saint-Omer, 18 june - 25 september 2022
The baton
The Eagle Flying Across Europe: Napoleon Relics Exhibition, Fondation Napoléon / Hubei Provincial Museum / Nanjing Museum / Liaoning Museum / Tianjin Museum, 29 august 2014 - 31 march 2015
The sword
Treasures of the Emperor and Imperial France : The Pierre-Jean Chalençon Collection, Villa Alba Museum in Melbourne, 1999
Le Panthéon de Napoléon, Panthéon Paris, 12 October 2001 - 6 January 2002
Quand Bonaparte devint Napoléon, Salons de l'hôtel de ville de Wasquehal, 31 january - 22 february 2004
Napoléon et la Vendée, hôtel du départment, 18 may - 17 october 2004
Bonaparte et la Vendée, logis de La Chabotterie, 1 may - 17 october 2004
Napoléon: An Intimate Portrait, A Travelling Exhibition from Russell Etling Company, 2005-2011