An important small sword of the 'Legion d'Honneur' dating: First Empire provenance: France, Straight, undulated double-edged blade, the first part of hexagonal section, engraved and gilded with pandur, trophies and floral motifs on a blue background up to the weak. Extraordinary, gilded-brass hilt. Iron shell-guard with gilded-brass mounts, featuring a medallion in the center with the order of Legion of Honour on a mother-of-pearl background, framed with laurel branches; the upper part with two lion's heads with a snake in the jaws. The guard with emperor's and warrior's busts among coils, beaded and grooved bands, pommel shaped as lion's head, finely chiselled and decorated with foliage at the base; wooden grip, covered with mother-of-pearl grip scales, a gilded brass lozenge with emperor's bust on a copper background on the right side; with the monogram 'FG' on the opposite side. The central band with a medallion shaped as a turreted lion's head of the city of Lyon among foliage decorations in bass-relief. Complete with leather scabbard with gilded brass mounts (slightly abraded finishing), engraved with floral and geometrical motifs; the button on the chape worked as a trophy with helmet. The sword is attributable to Joseph (Giuseppe) Fesch (Ajaccio 1763 - Rome 1839), uterine brother of Letizia Ramolino, mother of Napoleon. He was a cardinal, diplomat, archbishop and art collector. In 1802 he was appointed archbishop of Lyon and in 1803 French ambassador to Rome. Became grand chaplain of the French Empire and knight of the Grand Cross of the legion d'honneur for the influence of his nephew Napoleon. About 16,000 paintings collected in Rome by the cardinal were transferred to his palace in Ajaccio and his legacy to the city is the original fund from which the Fesch Museum was built. length 95 cm.