Important late 18th C. French Empire Period Presentation Sword, with massive watered wootz Ottoman blade

An important French Napoleonic sword dating 1795-1805 and the Battle of Egypt period, this sword represents the apogee of French arms design and the interaction of East and West.

The sword overall has a hussar style designof large proportions. The handle is gilt brass, or ormolu, mounted with fine rayskin of the highest quality (an indication of the importance of the owner as high quality rayskin was reserved for high end swords). The crossguard and guard feature classical portraits showing Revolutionary figures. The scabbard is chiseled brass with various classical designs.

The blade is exceptional and in excellent condition. It displays a superb watered wootz pattern and retains the original gilding and inscriptions. The blade has the form of the late Persian Zand period, and was likely captured in Egypt from Ottoman or Egyptian troopsand remounted for presentation in the period 1798-1805.

The blade is massive at 34 in length and near 1 1 /2 in width. The sword overall is 42.