FR EN
1 / 11
a close up of a metal object on a black surfacea close up of a sword on a table with a black backgrounda close up of a baseball bat on a black surfacea close up of a small metal object on a black surfacea close up of a metal object on a black surfacean old sword with a wooden handle and a light on top of ita close up of a knife on a table with a black backgrounda close up of a sword on a black surfacean old knife and a wooden handle on a black surfacea close up of a sword with a handle on a black surfacea close up of a metal object on a black surface
Caen Enchères

198 - Brigadier-General Fernand O’Connor’s sabre.
See original version (French)

Estimate €200 - €400
Sale commission
Description
Brigadier-General Fernand O’Connor’s sabre. Model 1883 cavalry officer’s sabre, privately made with no markings. Half-pink bronze hilt with three branches; a rimmed pommel bearing the O’Connor family coat of arms (a lion in profile wearing a five-pointed crown, surmounted by the motto ‘Meam Sucker Beague’). The spade-shaped pommel is adorned with acanthus leaves arranged in a cross, radiating from a palmette, surrounded by two riveted five-pointed stars; this is therefore the sabre worn by Fernand O’Connor whilst he was a Brigadier General between 1896 and 1902. Filigree-style horn hilt (filigree missing), leather scabbard strap present, beautiful straight blade with hollow edges. Steel scabbard with a single loop fastening. This item has never been part of a collection and comes directly from the grandson of someone close to General O’Connor. Fernand Marie O’Connor, born in Paris on 21 January 1847, was part of the ‘Sultan’ intake at Saint-Cyr (1866–1868), from which he graduated as a second lieutenant in the 6th Hussar Regiment. He took part in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 as a member of the prestigious Guides de la Garde regiment, then served as an aide-de-camp to General de Galliffet during the suppression of the Paris Commune. He was promoted to lieutenant and then captain in 1876 whilst serving in chasseur regiments, before becoming an aide-de-camp to the Minister of War, General Borel. He subsequently took part in the expedition to Algeria, then to Tunisia and Tonkin, until 1887. He then returned to Algeria with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the cavalry regiments. He was appointed colonel in 1891 as commander of the 2nd Regiment of African Chasseurs. Promoted to brigadier in 1896 and then to major-general in 1902, he commanded the Oran Division from 1901 to 1903 and distinguished himself during the capture of the Figuig oasis, an achievement that earned him a feature on the front page of *Le Petit Journal* on Sunday 21 June 1903. He died on 24 October 1905. He was the recipient of numerous honours: Commander of the Legion of Honour in 1899, the Tonkin (China) and Anham medals, the Colonial Medal with the Tunisia bar, Officer of the Order of Nichan Ifitkhar, Knight 2nd Class of the Order of Stanislas, Officer of the Order of Leopold, Commander of the Order of Franz Joseph, Knight of the Order of the Sword and Knight of the Order of Our Lady of Vila Viçosa.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale FURNITURE & WORKS OF ART
Auction location
Auction time 10/03/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures modified on 09/18/2026 at 4:17 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
You may also like