Rare sword of the Order of the Holy Spirit, finely chased an - Lot 40

Rare sword of the Order of the Holy Spirit, finely chased and gilded brass hilt, branch engraved with laurels, quillon adorned with a finial, keyboard chased with the cross of the Order of the Holy Spirit, a flame on each side and, above, at the ends of the keyboard, two medallions adorned with a wreath of laurels and monogrammed, in the center: "H" (for King Henri III), round pommel engraved with foliage, also featuring an "H" on the front and a fleur-de-lys on the back, spindle with two fluted mother-of-pearl plates; triangular blade, gilded and blued in thirds, signed on the heel: "B. Knecht" and "Solingen"; leather scabbard with two gilded brass fittings, clevis engraved with spider webs with a palmettes knob and fitted with a bélière ring, bolster engraved en suite; length 93 cm. Restoration period. Very good condition. Instituted in December 1578 by King Henri III, this is the most prestigious of the French monarchical orders. Suppressed during the French Revolution, like all orders of chivalry, it was re-established under the Restoration, by Louis XVIII, then by Charles X, and definitively abolished under Louis-Philippe.