A FINE FRENCH HUNTING SWORD OF EXHIBITION QUALITY MADE FOR GUSTAVE MARIE FRANÇOIS COLLIN DE GÉVAUDON, COMTE DE GÉVAUDON (1814-73) IN THE RUSSIAN TASTE, BY LE PAGE, ARQUEBUSIER DU ROI, CIRCA 1830-40 with broad double-edged blade of kindjal type, tapering sharply towards the point, cut with an off-set fuller on each face and formed with a rounded edge on one side over the lower third, etched on the front with a pattern of tightly scrolling foliage and flowers sown with pellets, the owner's crowned coat-of-arms, Azure, a saltire argent charged at its centre with an eagle displayed [sable]; in base three stems of lilies [argent]; coronet of a French count, and the maker's name, the reverse etched with a matching design of foliage, steel hilt comprising a pair of straight flattened quillons swelling towards the terminals, scabbard cover, flattened mushroom-shaped pommel, decorated throughout in encrusted silver with scrolls of foliage enriched with encrusted gold pellets within linear borders, the front of the cross-guard with the owner's initials 'GG', the pommel with a nine point coronet, and the button encrusted with a spiralling pattern of encrusted silver foliage and pellets (rubbed), horn grip inlaid with silver wire (small losses), in its original wooden scabbard covered with tooled leather, the outer face decorated with a symmetrical pattern of scrolling leafy tendrils surrounding the owner's crowned coat-of-arms en suite with the blade, fitted with large steel locket and chape (the latter loose, the leather with small cracks and losses, seam loose in places), each decorated with encrusted silver en suite with the hilt, the locket fitted on the outer face with a silver-encrusted belt hook, signed by the maker 'Lepage Arqer du Roi' with silver lines above and below on the inner, and remaining in untouched condition throughout 46.3cm; 18 1/4in blade Gustave Marie François Collin de Gévaudon, Comte de Gévaudon (1814-73), was eldest son of Edouard Collin de Gévaudon, Comte de Gévaudon and Seigneur de Saucy (1786-1834) by his wife Mlle. Marie Favre de Langry, whom he married in 1813. On 19th October 1840, at Boncourt-le-Bois in the Côte d'Or, Gustave, Comte de Gévaudan, married Mlle. Céline Joly de Bévy. It is possible that the present sword might have been presented on this occasion. André Jean Prosper Lepage is recorded in Paris circa 1792-1854 where he worked for Kings Louis XVIII, Charles X and Louis Philippe. He is recorded restoring antique armour and weapons and exhibited in the exhibitions of 1827, 1823, 1834 and 1839 where he was awarded a silver medal. He has also been credited with rediscovering the technique of making Damascus barrels. His broad interest in arms of all periods from all over the world is evident in the present sword. The form of the blade and the manner of decoration on the hilt and scabbard are derived from Russian and Caucasian weapons.