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THE CUIRASSIERS DURING THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR OF 1870 NAPOLEON III Bertrand MALVAUX CNES expert

The 10th Cuirassier Regiment served in metropolitan garrisons during the Second Empire and was not engaged in any active campaign before 1870. On August 1, 1870, the 10th Cuirassier Regiment became part of the Army of the Rhine. With the 7th Cuirassier Regiment of Cel NITOT, the 10th formed the 2nd Brigade under the orders of General DE GRAMONT, Duke DE LESPARRE. This 2nd brigade with the 1st brigade of General Prince MURAT, constitutes the 3rd cavalry division commanded by General of Division DE FORTON. This cavalry division evolves within the Cavalry Reserve. On August 11 he was in place in Montigny-lès-Metz. On August 16 he was engaged in the battle of Mars-la-Tour. He participated in the Siege of Metz (1870). On August 21, 1870, the regiment received the order to mobilize four squadrons (47 officers and 537 men) and joined Pont à Mousson on August 29 with the 3rd Reserve Cavalry Division. After a few movements without consequences, the regiment was engaged at Rezonville on August 16. After meeting the enemy outposts the day before, he camped in front of Vionville. In the morning, during the surprise cannonade of the Prussians, he had to regroup behind on the plateau dominating Vionville and Rezonville. The 1st squadron was engaged in the counter-charge against the Bredow brigade with the 7th cuirassier regiment with which it was enlisted. Rushing to the charge, he fell into the enemy's flank and pushed his debris back into the valley he had just crossed, causing him great losses, without suffering any notable ones. Following this charge, four officers were cited in the division.

The sabretaches of the First Empire, Bertrand Malvaux expert in works of art

The sabretaches of the first empire are military equipment that dates back to the Old Monarchy, the Napoleonic army widely uses this accessory. Bertrand Malvaux, CNES expert National Chamber of Specialized Experts, presents authentic examples of Honor Guard and Imperial Guard Scouts, and a cartridge pouch. Collecting military objects is a passion that requires time, patience, modesty and solid documentation. These requirements are all the more important as, over time, objects become rarer and more and more difficult to access. However, military art is a collection theme that still allows, according to everyone's possibilities, to find first-rate historical objects, without necessarily the price being unaffordable. I am always enthusiastic when an object of insignificant appearance, but which once enlightened by historical research, reveals itself to be an object steeped in history and sometimes more evocative than an object of great prestige known only to a few copies in the world ! This is a chance for beginner collectors or for those who do not wish to have too expensive a passion to be interested in military trinkets. Contrary to what current trends may suggest, the militaria still offers some subjects within the reach of the greatest number of collectors, provided they know how to get out of periods or highly prized objects. Copperware from the July Monarchy, military buttons from the second half of the 19th century, uniforms from the Third Republic, headgear from the National Guard, miniature portraits from the reigns of Louis-Philippe and Napoleon III, military photographs , certain brassware from the Revolutionary National Guard, epaulets from the Restoration to the Third Republic, regimental memorabilia, certain city swords from the Old Monarchy are all subjects in which it is possible to constitute suites of authentic, interesting, aesthetic and historical objects with usual means. I have made it a rule to supplement the meticulous examination of objects with an in-depth study of archives and period texts. The selection of objects and books offered for purchase on my site and in my Catalogs is based on 20 years of professional experience and 25 years of passion for military art. See the website: www.bertrand-malvaux.fr and the 2006 and 2009 sales catalogs “History through objects”. These pieces are not all of an insignificant rarity, but each of these military objects or historical souvenirs, expensive or modest, is an authentic witness to a glorious or unhappy past that cannot leave anyone indifferent. It remains for you to acquire them, if that is your desire.

The carabiniers helmets of the Monarchy from July to the Second Empire, Bertrand Malvaux expert CNES

The history of carabinieri helmets, one of the most spectacular bodies of the French army in the 19th century, Bertrand Malvaux expert CNES presents these copper helmets surmounted by their caterpillar of scarlet horsehair.

The history of France through small figurines dressed by great designers and painters

Bertrand Malvaux, expert in military and historical objects, presents the history of figurines dressed from the 19th century to the present day. The subject is illustrated by models of the main designers: creator Charles Sandres, Lucien Rousselot, Eugène Lelièpvre, Dominique Billiet. Modest but decorative objects, they are accessible to collectors or simple amateurs.

The flag eagles of the Second Empire, Bertrand Malvaux expert CNES

On December 31, 1851, Napoleon III decided to take the same symbolism as his uncle and use eagles at the top of the poles of his flags. To do this, a new ceremony of distribution of eagles was organized on May 10, 1852, after the coup d'état of December 2, 1851. The stakes are high because it offers the future Napoleon III the opportunity to gauge the loyalty of his armies. On this occasion, he called representatives of all the garrisons of France and Algeria. The eagles, made from a drawing by Jean-Auguste Barre (1811-1896), then cast in golden bronze, once again have their wings extended and their beaks more open. In all, three models will succeed each other under the Second Empire. Following closely the technological progress and concerned about the well-being of his army, Napoleon III asked the founders to lighten considerably the weight of the eagles. In 1854, an eagle made of galvanoplasty (namely the application of a layer of metal on a metal surface using an electrochemical process) was proposed to the emperor. Finally, in 1860, the founder Marion proposes an eagle in copper aluminum, then golden. The weight is reduced, not exceeding one kilo. The flag eagle presented here belongs to the latter model. The copper aluminum is visible under the gold, which gives this eagle a pinkish appearance. In this case, the absence of a caisson made it possible to identify it, with near certainty, as that of the 45th infantry regiment (only one eagle was put up for sale at the same time without its caisson). During the Second Empire, this regiment took part in the Battle of Magenta on 4 June 1859.

The Bombing of the City of Nantes during the Second World War

The city of Nantes during the Second World War suffered four hundred and forty-two alerts, for a total of twenty-eight bombings. The days of September 16 and 23, 1943, are the deadliest, causing 1500 victims. From May 1944 until liberation, the Allied forces carried out eleven bombings. On June 15, 1944, the pilot of B17 Donald N Carey, in his flying fortress, participates with the 369th squadron, of the 306th group, of the 8th Air Force, in an operation on Nantes. That day, he is dressed in the famous US Air Force pilot’s jacket, the A2 leather jacket. The Nantes expert Bertrand Malvaux, found the jacket of Donald N Carey, he makes you discover a page of the history of the city of Nantes through this historical object. Bertrand Malvaux, expert certified by the CNES (Compagnie Nationale des Experts Spécialisés en objets d'art et de collection)

Trumpet flames of the French Army from the First to the Second Empire

The cavalry trumpet is an ordinance instrument used in civil bands and in various army corps. It has the size and appearance of a classic trumpet without pistons, but its tube is longer. Generally in E, however, it can sometimes have two tones on the same instrument. The tone is then changed by orienting a palette that deflects the air flow. The notes played are the harmonics: do sol do mi sol si do ré mi fa (false, between fa and fa#) sol la si, si contre-ut contre-ré-mi contre-fa contre-sol etc. The notes are obtained exclusively by a work of breath and tension of the lips. The repertoire is mainly military music, but also the drum-band: pieces with a Latin American rhythm have been composed for the cavalry trumpet. It is also possible to play early trumpet music because the baroque trumpet is essentially, like the cavalry trumpet, a natural trumpet without piston. The band repertoire of some regiments includes, for example, ordinances composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully. Major André Souplet composed many modern pieces for cavalry trumpet. Nineteenth-century painters such as Géricault and Horace Vernet have repeatedly represented soldiers of the cavalry whose function is the use of this trumpet. They are designated by the name of their instrument, and played a role in the Napoleonic Wars.

Historical memory of the days of 5 and 6 October 1789, presented by Bertrand MALVAUX expert CNES

DOG COLLAR PLATE belonging to Mr DESUTTES Garde du Roy, one of the two guards killed during the invention of the Château de Versailles on October 6, 1789, Ancienne Monarchie. October 5 and 6, 1789, are part of the «great days» of the French Revolution and resulted in the definitive and forced return of King Louis XVI and his family to Paris, capital of the kingdom of France.

Bertrand Malvaux présentation 2017

Bertrand Malvaux, expert in military objects and historical souvenirs, tells of the birth of his passion, and presents some centerpieces of his collection which will be displayed during the ''Salon International du Livre Rare et de l'Objet d'Art'' of the Grand Palais, in Paris 2017.

Bertrand Malvaux : ARTE CULTURE documentary

On the occasion of the ''Salon de l'Objet d'Art'' (2019, Grand Palais, Paris), and of its True / False stand, the CNES has been the subject of an ARTE CULTURE documentary.

CNES Bertrand MALVAUX expert : OLMAN-PELISSE OF GENERAL OF THE DEFENSE STAFF JOSEPH JOFFRE 2018

Chosen object: DOLMAN-PELISSE OF GENERAL OF THE DEFENSE STAFF JOSEPH JOFFRE, 1871 design, WORN DURING THE FRENCH MISSION IN the United-States (1st April – 15th May 1917), FRENCH THIRD REPUBLIC (1913-1918). 2018

Sabres of the Sailors of the Imperial Guard (First French Empire) : an authentical copy, a sabre of the Port Sailors, and a modern reproduction 2019

Bertrand Malvaux expert certified by the CNES (Chambre Nationale des Expert Spécialisés en Objet d'Art et de Collection), presents you three sabres of the Sailors of the Imperial Guard (First French Empire) : an authentical copy, a sabre of the Port Sailors, and a modern reproduction. 2019

The Emperor Napoleon 1st

Certified expert in military objects and historical souvenirs presents you a selection of original objects on the theme of : the Emperor Napoleon 1st

Generals of Napoleon

Certified expert in military objects and historical souvenirs presents you a selection of original objects on the theme of : Generals of Napoleon

Infanterie de la Garde Impériale de Napoléon

Expert agréé en objets militaires et souvenirs historiques vous présente une sélection d'objets originaux ayant pour thème: Infanterie de la Garde Impériale de Napoléon

Footmen from the Grande Armée

Certified expert in military objects and historical souvenir presents you a selection of original objects on the theme of : Footmen from the Grande Armée.

Infantry of the Napoleon's Imperial Guard

Certified expert in military objects and historical souvenir presents you a selection of original objects on the theme of : Infantry of the Napoleon's Imperial Guard.

La Cavalerie de Napoléon

Expert agréé en objets militaires et souvenirs historiques vous présente une sélection d'objets originaux ayant pour thème: Les batailles de Napoléon

French Napoleonic cavalry First Empire

French Napoleonic cavalry First Empire

Battles of Napoleon

Certified expert in military objects and historical souvenirs presents you a selection of original objects on the theme of : Battles of Napoleon