Infantry officer's saber of the Imperial Guard infantry type. Handle covered with triple gilded copper filigree. Chased brass mounting, single-branch hilt decorated with foliate friezes and two rhombic auricles (holes for the emperor's profile on the obverse). Curved, flat-backed Solingen blade, engraved, gilded and one-third blued (heavy spikes and wear). Presented with a mismatched leather scabbard (broken) with two brass fittings and bleached buffalo gusset. Length: 89 cm First Empire period. E.M.