FRANCE, Consulat Premier Empire Staff officer's saber, Vendémiaire an XII model. Chased gilt bronze mounting. Single-branch hilt, ending in a leafy buckle, and cruiser decorated with a martial trophy, featuring a Greek helmet on a flag, sword and trumpet background, in a rectangular reserve highlighted by half-oreillas with palmette. Lion-headed curved quillon. Short-tailed pommel adorned with a rosette and a torus of laurel leaves. Ebony spindle with oblique grooves. Slightly curved blade with small cutting edge, two hollow sides and round back, finished with counter-edge, partially engraved, blued and gilded with trophies, bundles and laurel wreath. With a fancy scabbard (too long) in repoussé brass and gilded, decorated with military trophies in cartouches, laurel garlands and fluting, with two bracelets and faceted ring-bearers; iron sting. Blade length: 77.5 cm - Scabbard length (without dart): 87.5 cm - Total length: 103.5 cm. Wear to the gilding and decoration on the blade; a few chips to the spindle; a few stains and oxidation to the blade, probably partially repolished; scabbard bowl missing, a few knocks from use. Provenance: Sale by Maître de Maigret, Paris, Drouot, October 10, 2014, lot 412