Superb present sword - Lot 38

Lot n° 38
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Estimation :
30000 - 50000 EUR
Superb present sword - Lot 38
Superb present sword Presented by Prince Eugene de Beauharnais to his aide-de-camp, Count Louis Tascher de la Pagerie (1787-1861), cousin of Empress Josephine. Gilt mount. Wooden flare 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 (gilding worn). 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 le 9 9bre 1812". Small raised amati-backed counterguard. Triangular blade engraved in gold and blued in thirds with foliage and trophies of arms, marked "SH" in a cartouche (remnants of bluing, small pits on the heel). Red cloth tie. B.E. SF. First Empire period (old repair inside the keyboard, miniature slightly faded). Marks: Paris Coq 1 950 title mark and medium guarantee mark (Paris, 1798-1809). Related work: 1. To be compared with the sword in the collections of the Musée de Malmaison, bearing the same miniature, presented 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 help you on your way / I will ask nothing of the Emperor for you / Unless you have earned it". Our sword, a symbol of Louis Tascher's military merit and bravery recognized by Prince Eugène, seems to parallel this one. 2. Portrait medallion of Empress Josephine by Louis-Bertin Parant (Mers, 1768 - Paris, 1851) in the Musée national des châteaux de Malmaison et Bois-Préau (M.M.D.43). Provenance : - Sale "L'Empire à Fontainebleau", Fontainebleau (Maître Osenat), sale June 8, 2008, no. 386, expert Jean-Claude Dey. - Jean Louis Noisiez Collection. 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, as 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. Eugène de Beauharnais (Paris 1781 - Munich, 1824). Duke of Leuchtenberg Son of Alexandre and Joséphine de Beauharnais, he accompanied his father-in-law Bonaparte on the Italian and Egyptian campaigns. General in 1804, Prince of the Empire and Viceroy of Italy in 1805. In Italy, he showed himself to be an energetic and humane administrator, and further demonstrated his military qualities during the retreat from Russia, deciding the victory at Lützen and defending Italy against the Allies to the very end. Pierre-Claude-Louis-Robert Tascher de la Pagerie. Born in 1787, he was admitted to the École Spéciale Impériale Militaire on 8 ventôse an XIII (February 27, 1805). In April 1806, he was appointed second lieutenant in the 4th Regiment of Line Infantry; on May 23, 1807, he became the Emperor's officer-in-charge; on October 13 of the same year, he was appointed aide-de-camp to General Junot; on the 27th of the same month and year, he became the Emperor's lieutenant and officer-in-charge; on July 11, 1807, he was awarded the Knight's Cross.
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