SUPERB GIFT SWORD PRESENTED BY PRINCE EUGENE DE BEAUHARNAIS - Lot 14

Lot 14
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Estimation :
40000 - 60000 EUR
SUPERB GIFT SWORD PRESENTED BY PRINCE EUGENE DE BEAUHARNAIS - Lot 14
SUPERB GIFT SWORD PRESENTED BY PRINCE EUGENE DE BEAUHARNAIS TO HIS AIDE-DE-CAMP, COUNT LOUIS TASCHER DE LA PAGERIE (1787-1861), COUSIN OF IMPERATRICE JOSEPHINE. Gilt mount. Wooden fuse covered with four mother-of-pearl plates, decorated on the front, in a medallion, with an oval miniature depicting "Empress Josephine", in profile bust, attributed to Louis Bertin Parant. Garnished at the corners with four vermeil baguettes: two chased with diamond-shaped friezes and the other two chased with studded diamond-shaped friezes (one missing). Short-skirted cap chased with acanthus leaves and foliage (wear to gilding). Single-branch hilt, with rooster-head hook, chased with foliage, quillon curved towards the tip and rounded, decorated en suite and hallmarked. Keyboard with eagle on a background of two shields, chased with the French imperial crown and the Italian royal crown, branches of oak leaves and laurel leaves, edged with studded decoration. Engraved inside the keyboard: "Donné par S.A.I. et Royale le prince Eugène, vice-roi d'Italie au comte Ls de Tascher de Lapagerie, chef d'escadron, gouverneur de Frankfort s/m, son aide de camp au passage du Wop 9 9bre 1812". Small raised counterguard with amati background. Triangular blade engraved in gold and blued in thirds with foliage and army trophies, marked "SH" in a cartouche (remnants of bluing, small pits on the heel). Red cloth tie. B.E. SF. (Old repair inside the keyboard, miniature slightly faded). First Empire period. Marks: Paris Coq 1 950 title mark and medium guarantee mark (Paris, 1798-1809). History: Letter from Josephine to Eugène. Paris, February 2, 1809: "I know, my dear Eugène, that I don't need to recommend young Tascher to you. The Emperor wishes to make him a good officer, and he felt he could not choose a better guide than you. This young man has found it very hard not to serve with the Emperor, but the duties of an ordinance officer would have taken time away from his military exercises. I beg you to make this subject of sorrow less sensitive by granting him your friendship. The Emperor has asked me to recommend him to you again, and to tell you to admit him to your table. Besides, I have a particular attachment to him, he is the son of an uncle who served as my father (Robert-Marguerite de Tascher)." Young Louis, appointed governor of Frankfurt, went on campaign with Eugène de Beauharnais in 1812. He fought bravely at Ostrowno, Moskowa and Maloïaroslavets (October 24, 1812). The passage of the Wop was executed on November 9, 1812 during the Russian campaign, by the retreating Army of Italy. Pursued by Cossacks, the Italian army and royal guard escaped annihilation, but lost their baggage and artillery. Related work : To be compared with the sword presented in the collections of the Musée de Malmaison, bearing the same miniature, offered by Josephine the Empress to the same Louis Tascher de la Pagerie on June 29, 1807 (M.M.77141), bearing the following dedication on the back of the keyboard: "Take this sword / May it serve you to make your way / I will ask nothing for you from the Emperor / That you have not deserved". Our sword, a symbol of Tascher's military merit and bravery recognized by Eugène, seems to be a counterpart to this one, proof of Empress Joséphine's attachment and selflessness at the start of her career. Provenance : - L'Empire à Fontainebleau" sale, Fontainebleau (Maître Osenat), sale of June 8, 2008, no. 386, expert Jean-Claude Dey. - Jean Louis Noisiez Collection.
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