Art Institute of Chicago

Sword of Service and Scabbard

Marked by Martin-Guillaume Biennais (born France, 1764–1843)

Date

c. 1810

Medium

Silver, gilded silver, steel, gold, mother-of-pearl, wood, leather, and textile

Culture

Paris

Department

Applied Arts of Europe

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

This court sword, with its heavily gilded silver hilt, mother-of-pearl grip and gold inlayed blade, was intended for presentation to a diplomatic, civic, or military leader for ceremonial wear at court. It represents the final development of the eighteenth civilian smallsword, with its characteristic short blade and downturned kidney-shaped guard—design features meant to make it less inhibiting to wear or less damaging to fine silk clothing. The reverse side of the guard is engraved with the name and address of Napoleon Bonaparte’s official goldsmith, Martin-Guillaume Biennais of Paris. Biennais was responsible for executing gold and silver table wear , furniture, and even weapons for the Emperor and his court, much of which was designed by the architect Charles Percier. Watercolor drawings attributed to Percier for a nearly-identical hilt design—complete with flanking winged horses, laurel leaves, and other classical ornaments—are preserved in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris. These motifs reference the trappings of the ancient Roman empire to draw allusions to Napoleon and his rule.

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