French Consulate Governement Sword

This sword, whose scabbard is mounted with mother-of-pearl plaques, is one of three thought to have been given to members of the Consulat in 1802 to 1803. An identical example, said to have belonged to Napoleon as First Consul, is at Windsor Castle. The swords were made by a workshop under the direction of Nicolas Noël Boutet which had been set up within the Manufacture de Versailles in 1793.

Place of origin:
Versailles, France (made)

Date:
1802-1803 (made)

Artist/Maker:
Boutet, Nicolas Noel (maker)
Manufacture de Versailles (manufacturer)

Materials and Techniques:
[Sheath] Mother of pearl with silver-gilt mounts
[Sword] Silver-gilt mounts, steel blade overlaid with engraved gold

Museum number:
486:1, 2-1870

Gallery location:
Europe & America 1800-1900, room 101, case 1, shelf 1

Physical description

[Sheath] Sheath for a sword, mother of pearl mounted with silver gilt
[Sword] The hilt of silver gilt, signed 'Entise Boutet, Mfture A. Versailles',

Date

1802-1803 (made)

Artist/maker

Boutet, Nicolas Noel (maker)
Manufacture de Versailles (manufacturer)

Materials and Techniques

[Sheath] Mother of pearl with silver-gilt mounts
[Sword] Silver-gilt mounts, steel blade overlaid with engraved gold

Marks and inscriptions

[Sword] 'Entise Boutet, Mfture A. Versailles' Boutet's, made in Versailles

Dimensions

Length: 94.6 cm Sword in scabbard
[Sword] Length: 75.5 cm Blade, Length: 15 cm hilt

Object history note

Historical significance: This is one of a group of swords made for members of the French Consulate Government by Nicholas Noël Boutet. An identical example, said to have belonged to Napoleon as First Consul, is at Windsor.

Descriptive line

Sword and sheath, hilt and mounts silver gilt, mother of pearl sheath, France (Versailles), 1802-3, signed 'Entise Boutet, Mfture A. Versailles'.

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Hayward, J.F. Swords and Daggers, London, HMSO, 1963
Handbook covering the Museum collection of swords and daggers from the end of the 15th century to the beginning of the 19th century.
Anthony North An Introduction to European Swords, London, HMSO, 1982, pp. 44-45 ill. ISBN. 0112903789

Exhibition History

Art and Design in Europe and America, 1800-1900 (01/01/1987-31/12/2006)

Labels and date

Source: collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O97349/sword-and-sheath-boutet-nicolas-noel/