Sword of a senior French officer, for the gala uniform, in scabbard

Steel, gilt bronze, mother-of-pearl; leather; overall length 92.5 cm.
France, Saint Etienne, BALP manufactory, known for its excellent quality weapons; 1st half of 19th century (reign of Napoleon III).
Steel head, triple-grooved, richly decorated with floral ornamentation. On the inner side the mark of the BALP manufactory. Cross-barrelled yoke, made of gilded bronze. Decorative openwork shield with the image of banners, on their background among laurel and oak leaves - the letters "R. F." (Republique Française). The handle is made of gilded bronze, the shaft is cannelled, clad in mother-of-pearl. Head with double-sided depiction of the head of the goddess Athena in a helmet. Single bow decorated with floral motifs.
Leather scabbard with an upper ferrule at the neck; the lower ferrule - the so-called viscera - is missing.
Condition of the spade very good.