FRENCH SWORD BLADE C.1760

Property of an aristocratic owner. A side arm, often called hunting swords, were carried in the streets for protection. This example is 20 ½” length, having been broken during the French Revolution, and likely its aristocrat owner was beheaded. The tang is struck with a maker’s mark. The base is decorated with a panel depicting Louis VI, the Sun King, who was executed by guillotine. The fullers bear typical hound and stag/hound and board motifs. The blade is broken short to disable it in a gesture of destruction of the noble class. Its hilt was very likely remounted with a generic, possibly military blade for use by a commoner.