Directoire general's sword that belonged to General Pille, model before or derived from that of Year VI (20 Thermidor, Year VI), made by a Parisian supplier, perhaps Juste in Paris. Chased and gilded brass hilt, quiver-shaped cross guard with arrows, bow on the front and finial at the body knot, small shield-shaped keyboard chased with a rooster, ring under the fusee entirely chased with oak leaves, circular pommel decorated with foliage and ovals and finished with an acanthus leaf knob, fluted ebony spindle, decorated on the front with a large staff thunderbolt on a gilded brass shuttle; straight blade with diamond-shaped cross-section, two grooves on each side, engraved and gilded one-third of the way up, ending in an accolade point; leather scabbard with three brass fittings, gilded, engraved with foliage, oak leaves and laurels, intermediate fitting engraved with a staff thunderbolt, the chape bears a button in the shape of Minerva's head, brass sting, very cut; length 93 cm.
(Blade showing oxidation; leather slightly split on one side).
Circa 1795/1800. Good condition.
This sword belonged to General PILLE, and comes from the same family as his saber of the general model given by the Directoire exécutif, marked: "DONNÉ PAR LE MINISTRE DE LA GUERRE", as well as his sword of the general model vendémiaire an XII, sold at Hôtel Drouot, June 3, 1992, Maître Dominique RIBEYRE, n° 42 and 43.
An identical sword was presented at an exhibition at the Château de la Malmaison in 2000:
Marengo and a political victory, catalog no. 64, page 83, where it was reproduced.
PILLE Louis, Antoine, Comte, general born in Soissons on July 14, 1749, died there on October 7, 1828. He began his military career in 1767; became battalion commander in the Dijon national guard in 1789; lieutenant-colonel commanding the 1st Côte d'Or battalion on August 30, 1791; adjutant general lieutenant-colonel on August 19, 1792; returned to the Armée du Nord in February 1793; served in the Maastricht bombardment at the end of February 1793; at Neerwinden on March 18, 1793; wounded by a shot to the head on March 22, 1793; handed over to the Austrians by DEMOURIEZ on April 2 and detained in the Maastricht citadel; exchanged, he returned to France on May 23, 1793; brigadier general employed by the Minister of War on December 2, 1793; major general on November 13, 1795; commander of the 19th military division on February 27, 1798; appointed under HÉDOUVILLE to command the 1st and 16th military divisions on February 5, 1799; commander of the 16th military division alone when the headquarters of the 1st were transferred to Paris on January 21, 1801... Chevalier de l'Empire, March 18, 1809; placed on leave of absence, May 1, 1814; Chevalier de Saint-Louis, Commander of the Legion of Honor, November 1, 1814; Inspector General of Infantry, retired, September 4, 1815; Count, September 23, 1815. General PILLE's name is inscribed on the west side of the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile.
Estim. 7,000 - 10,000 EUR
