FRENCH HUNTING SWORD WITH BLUE AND GILT BLADE, CA.1820s

French hunting sword, or couteau de chasse of excellent quality, fabricated in the first half of 19th century. Grip is ebony, well-sculpted, guard is of silvered brass, with hunting dogs heads as quillon finials, and a game animal's head in the center of the cross-guard. The blade is 40 cm long, sword is 54 cm long overall.  Blade is maker-marked S.H., possibly Samuel Hoppe or Simon Helwig, very thick, cruciform in cross-section, blued and gilt for more than half its length, with gold-filled etched rosettes depicting martial, hunting, floral motifs, and, interestingly, an arrangement of scientific instruments. Blade has touches of stabilized rust, The scabbard throat is decorated with a quiver full of arrows and a hunting horn. Scabbard is in good condition, and fits the sword nicely; leather has split in a couple of areas, shoe is of a later date. 

A very nice, well-decorated piece, in my estimation dating to the late Premiere Empire-Restoration-July Monarchy period.