By Sheperd Paine
Of all Napoleonic collectibles, few combine physical beauty with
historical significance as spectacularly as the military relics
of that era. In addition to being beautiful objects in their own
right, these splendid survivors of the battlefields of the Empire
were not just "eyewitnesses" but actual participants in
some of the most dramatic events of modern history.
Most people assume that all the tangible remnants of Napoleon and his
Empire are locked up in museums, and never realize that it is possible
to own genuine relics of the events that so stir our imagination.
Yet these items are not only available, but remain within many collectors’
financial reach.
It is true that objects can never actually speak, but a careful study
of them can reveal many secrets about their past. More significantly,
to the receptive mind they can communicate on a subtler level as
well. Holding in one’s hand an object that was actually "there"
can impart a deeper intuitive understanding of historical events
than can ever be derived from just reading about them.
Some relics of the Napoleonic period are extraordinarily expensive; others
are not. While a collector’s tastes are always tempered by the depth
of his or her pocketbook, there remains a wide selection of Napoleonic
items within comfortable reach of a determined collector on a budget.
It is beyond the scope of thbis short article to provide a detailed
guide to Napoleonic Militaria. A more realistic goal is pass along
some accumulated wisdom from experienced collectors — things that
are not always found in books, but are essential knowledge for beginning
and advanced collector alike. If you have been collecting
only a short time, nearly all of this material will be new to you.
If you have been collecting for a few years, much of it will not.
And if you have been a collector for many years, by all means drop
us a line — perhaps we can learn something from you!
First Empire Eagle
Second Empire Eagle
The most important of these, and the most sought after today, is the
Legion of Honor. Since this decoration continued in use by subsequent
regimes (and is still awarded today), it is important to be able
to tell the First Empire types from the ones that followed. First
Empire crosses are generally divided into four successive types:
1) with no crown, 2) with a fixed crown 3) with a swivel crown,
and 4) with a swivel crown and balls on the points of the cross.
The later model closest in appearance to the First Empire types
was naturally that of the Second Empire, which is easily distinguished
by the eagles on the crown. Restoration models (1815-1830) have
King Henri IV on the center, July Monarchy types (1830-1848) have
Napoleon, but crossed flags on the back, and the post 1870 version
has a green enameled wreath in place of the crown.
The campaign medal for the Napoleonic wars is disappointing. Called the St. Helena Medal, it was not awarded until 1852, by which time many of the most deserving recipients were long dead. Still, thousands were given out, and without a name attached to them they rarely bring more than $50.
A quick mention should be made of foreign decorations as well. Nearly all counties involved in the Napoleonic wars gave campaign medals to their participants, usually in silver for officers and bronze for other ranks. The British, curiously enough, instituted the Waterloo medal immediately after the battle for all ranks present, but waited until 1848 before awarding a similar medal (with bars on the ribbon for battles in which the recipient took part) to veterans of the Peninsula. The wonderful feature of British medals is that the name and regiment of the recipient were officially engraved on the rim. This makes it possible to acquire a Waterloo medal knowing that it was awarded to (and actually worn by) a man who charged with the Scots Greys or defended Hougomont with the Guards. The officalmedal rolls are still on file at the Public Records Office in London, allowing you to confirm the recipient.
The Emperor’s cuirassiers were the scourge of the European
battlefields and their long straight broadswords saw almost continuous
service for over a century, which ensured that many survived. There
were minor changes in design as the years went by, and new and old
hilts, grips, and blades were combined and recombined as the needs
of the service required. Blades made in 1812 were still being carried
on the battlefields of 1914! This process of combining new and old
parts means that an 1812 date on a blade is no indication that the
other parts are of the same period. The classic First Empire cuirassier
sword (see the illustration at left) can be distinguished by a number
of features: the balls at the base of each branch of the basket,
a smooth unchanneled base for the guard, and a plain cylindrical
pommel cap with no rim around the top. The wire made only 11 turns
around the grip, not 16 as on later patterns.
Whatever the model or style, all of the enlisted pattern swords used during the First Empire were set forth in regulations and rigorously inspected. A great boon to collectors is that the month, year and place of manufacture was etched along the spine of the blade (a practice that continues on French weapons to this day) and each part was stamped with the initial of the controller who supervised its manufacture. Virtually all First Empire blades were made at Klingenthal, and are so marked. The light cavalry types used during the First Empire were replaced with a new model in 1822, making them somewhat scarcer than the Cuirassier type. First Empire enlisted scabbards were lined with wood, making both metal and leather versions very thick, almost round and often as much as an inch across; post-empire scabbards were much thinner. The brass-hilted infantry sword remained in use for several decades afterward and was widely copied by other countries, so these must be approached with caution. Without an arsenal mark and date on the top of the blade, the sword you are thinking of buying is probably not French, however much you might want it to be.
The cavalry and infantry of the Imperial Guard carried their own distinctive models, and the few surviving examples are in great demand today, and correspondingly expensive. I saw an Imperial Guard light cavalry model for sale in Paris a few years ago for over $5000, a price usually reserved for deluxe officers’ swords. The swords for the two carabinier regiments are even rarer than those of the Guard.
In contrast to the enlisted models, there were few regulation patterns for officers’ swords. This was the golden age of the military cutler, and a bewildering variety of blades survive to this day. Still, there were customary patterns for different types of service, and most swords followed these general guidelines. Officer’s blades during this period were nearly always decorated with blued and gilt designs for about a third of their length, a practice that was replaced with frost etching almost immediately afterwards. This means that if you come across a sword with the remains of this blued and gilt decoration, the chances are that it is a First Empire type, if not necessarily French. Similarly, officer’s swords often had checkered walnut or ebony grips, a practice that also passed out of fashion with the fall of the Empire, making a sword with these grips almost certainly a First Empire example. Light cavalry and infantry officer’s swords are not uncommon and can sometimes be found at gun shows, although examples in really fine condition are harder to find.
The deluxe parade swords, of which many fine examples survive, represent
the pinnacle of the sword cutler’s art, and bring high prices on
any market. Perhaps the most desirable are the "swords of honor"
awarded to private soldiers and NCOs for heroism before the institution
of the Legion of Honor in 1804. These were often made at Versailles
under the direction of Nicholas Boutet, and are engraved with the
name and regiment of the recipient.
The most common swords are not terribly expensive, as edged weapons
go. Good enlisted models can often be found for $750-1000, and the
plainer officers’ swords in average condition are not much more
than that.
The ultimate firearms of the First Empire period were undoubtedly those produced by the Manufacture de Versailles, under the direction of Nicholas Boutet. Boutet has often been called the "Michelangelo of gunsmiths," because of the beauty of the decoration on his presentation arms, but a comparison to Stradivarius might actually be more appropriate; his plainer pistols, while still elegant in their lines, have an astonishing balance and mechanical sophistication far exceeding other arms of the period.
For this reason, these items have been sought by collectors for over a hundred years.
There is not enough space here to discuss Napoleonic headgear in
any detail. Instead, I will limit my comments to some general advice.
Learn as much as you can not only about Napoleonic helmets and shakos, but about those of subsequent regimes as well. These are often passed off as First Empire pieces, and if you can recognize them, you are far less likely to be taken. For example, nearly all of the metal helmet crests made after the fall of the Empire were decorated with a series of inverted "teardrops" along the sides; these were never found on First Empire helmets. Study the small but important characteristics of First Empire construction: the "bull Durham bag" lining, the embossed patterns on the leather visors, the weight and thickness of the brass stampings. Take advantage of every opportunity to hold pieces in your hand; by learning the "feel" of a piece — its weight, texture, and flexibility — you can educate your hands to distinguish what your eyes might overlook.
Gorgets were gilt crescents worn at the throat as a badge of rank by officers. French officers wore gorgets until the fall of the Second Empire in 1870. As a result, Second Empire gorgets are often advertised as First, but if one pays attention to the differences in the eagles as outlined above, the chances of being taken are greatly reduced.
The best copies and fakes are extremely difficult to detect. In fact, the very best have never been detected at all, being accepted as genuine by beginner and expert alike. That said, there is no point in being paranoid about the situation. A bit of familiarity with the copies currently on the market will invariably stand you in good stead, and as you gain experience in the marketplace, your instincts will become sharper.
The most common copies seen today are the cuirassier and light cavalry swords being made in Pakistan. They are very good copies, but most lack the inspector’s proof marks found on original swords. Hold the sword by the grip and hold it out to feel the balance, If the point drops too quickly, watch out — the copies are always blade-heavy. Another good trick is to sight down the length of the blade: if the surface is rippled and looks hand-forged, it was probably made in Pakistan. The original swords were ground on giant wheels, leaving slight irregularities but not a rippled finish. Copies of officers’ swords have been made for some years in Eastern Europe. Their appearance is often quite convincing, but they are usually of the fancier style with foliate designs on the hilts. Swords of this quality were invariably gilt, and while the gilding is often rubbed off genuine specimens, traces will always remain in the little recesses. The fakes are not gilded at all, and the lack of gilt in the little nooks and crannies is an important warning sign.
Some fine examples of reproduction headgear were made for the centennial in 1904, and with 90 year of age on them these can often fool the unwary collector. But if you have done your homework, you should be able to spot the differences in construction.
Shako plates are known to have been struck from original dies, but the ones you are most likely to encounter in this country are those which were made for Bremner Jackson, a leading collector in the 1960’s. He planned to sell reproduction shakos, but never got farther than having the dies made and a few examples of each type struck. There was a wide variety, ranging from lancer czapska plates to shakos for the Guard and line. The plates are lighter and thinner than the originals, and the 1812 models are easily distinguished by the "spaghetti" pattern of feathers on the eagle’s chest.
In the end, the happiest collector is the one who has taken the time to read up on the subject and educate himself in the marketplace. Not only can he avoid being cheated by ignorant or unscrupulous dealers, but he is in a far better position to appreciate the history of the pieces he has in his collection.