French Sword

DhaDha · 18th November 2013, 05:03 AM

Hello. This is out of my usual scope, but i quite like it. I bought it as a French Court Sword. I'm hoping for help with dating other than my "old" estimate and.
There are identical markings on both sides:

An inscription, three Fleur De Lis (sp?) and what looks like a sun. (Maybe Louis XIV? just a guess??)

Any comments would be welcome.

Cheers

fernando · 18th November 2013, 02:49 PM

The inscription contains the supplier's name and address and reads:
Givergne Md Fourbisseur Rue Vieille Boucherie à l'Épée Royale à Paris.
A mid XVIII century sword, most probably from King Louis XVI period ... Fleur de Lis and all.

DhaDha · 18th November 2013, 05:03 PM

Excellent. And thank you.

Jim McDougall · 20th November 2013, 05:13 PM

Very nice example, especially with this remarkable grouping of markings which give us the exact information we need, as Fernando has concisely detailed. It is good to see some dimension added to the rather immensely applied classification of 'old'

and for those interested in French history or their weapons....even better both! they can follow that course to develop an interesting historical profile of this piece.
As always, we hope that information might be shared here for others pursuing data on these weapons and archived here.

Thank you DhaDha for posting this and Nando for the excellent response!

Best regards,
Jim

M ELEY · 24th November 2013, 02:14 AM

So good to hear from you, Jim, and I would also agree with Fernando's summation to the Sun King's era. Wasn't it common to see this marking on swords during his reign? In any case, a beautiful example of a court sword; not too 'frilly' nor overbearing. I especially like the ovoid pommel with raised cap and stylistic knuckle bows.

DhaDha · 24th November 2013, 08:14 AM

Thank you all for the comments. I'll learn a lot from this sword. As I have from this forum...

corrado26 · 2nd May 2021, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

Rue Vieille Boucherie à l'Épée Royale .[/B]

Fernando, pas "BOUCHERIE", mais "BOUCLERIE", une petite mais importante difference

fernando · 2nd May 2021, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corrado26

Fernando, pas "BOUCHERIE", mais "BOUCLERIE", une petite mais importante difference

Surely a (my) spelling flaw

.

ulfberth · 2nd May 2021, 05:52 PM

the maker Givergne Md Fourbisseur Rue Vieille Boucherie à l'Épée Royale à Paris worked for the French Royal court between 1774-77

fernando · 2nd May 2021, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

Surely a (my) spelling flaw

.

... Or maybe a flaw of the engraver. The street had many different names, boucherie and bouclerie included. But it all indicates that this supplier is listed as having resided in the street when it as named Vieille Boucherie.

http://www.francegenweb.org/wiki/ind...ille_Boucherie

Udo, i find it amazing that it took you eight years to spot un (possible) faux pas

.

.

corrado26 · 3rd May 2021, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

Udo, i find it amazing that it took you eight years to spot un (possible) faux pas

.

.

As always, good things mostly need a long time to develop

18th November 2013, 05:03 AM	#1
DhaDha Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 165	French Sword Hello. This is out of my usual scope, but i quite like it. I bought it as a French Court Sword. I'm hoping for help with dating other than my "old" estimate and. There are identical markings on both sides: An inscription, three Fleur De Lis (sp?) and what looks like a sun. (Maybe Louis XIV? just a guess??) Any comments would be welcome. Cheers Attached Images

18th November 2013, 02:49 PM	#2
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	The inscription contains the supplier's name and address and reads: Givergne Md Fourbisseur Rue Vieille Boucherie à l'Épée Royale à Paris. A mid XVIII century sword, most probably from King Louis XVI period ... Fleur de Lis and all.

18th November 2013, 05:03 PM	#3
DhaDha Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 165	Excellent. And thank you.

20th November 2013, 05:13 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,957	Very nice example, especially with this remarkable grouping of markings which give us the exact information we need, as Fernando has concisely detailed. It is good to see some dimension added to the rather immensely applied classification of 'old' and for those interested in French history or their weapons....even better both! they can follow that course to develop an interesting historical profile of this piece. As always, we hope that information might be shared here for others pursuing data on these weapons and archived here. Thank you DhaDha for posting this and Nando for the excellent response! Best regards, Jim

24th November 2013, 02:14 AM	#5
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,101	So good to hear from you, Jim, and I would also agree with Fernando's summation to the Sun King's era. Wasn't it common to see this marking on swords during his reign? In any case, a beautiful example of a court sword; not too 'frilly' nor overbearing. I especially like the ovoid pommel with raised cap and stylistic knuckle bows.

24th November 2013, 08:14 AM	#6
DhaDha Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 165	Thank you all for the comments. I'll learn a lot from this sword. As I have from this forum...

2nd May 2021, 05:52 PM	#9
ulfberth Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 403	the maker Givergne Md Fourbisseur Rue Vieille Boucherie à l'Épée Royale à Paris worked for the French Royal court between 1774-77