82. UNIQUE 1812 MODEL FLAG OF THE 2ND REGIMENT... Lot 82

82. UNIQUE 1812 MODEL FLAG OF THE 2ND REGIMENT OF FOOT GRENADIERS OF THE IMPERIAL GUARD GIVEN BY KING LOUIS XVIII TO MARECHAL OUDINOT. In double silk, composed on both sides of three vertical stripes, blue, white and red, edged on three sides with gold passementerie bangs. The obverse and reverse are richly embroidered with silk thread, canetille, thread, sequins and gilded silver lamé: - At the top and bottom of the central section, a cluster of sixteen bees surrounding a laurel wreath with a pomegranate (specific to grenadiers). - On the outside, two friezes featuring a large imperial eagle at the bottom, a laurel wreath with the imperial numeral framed by two palmettes at the center and an imperial crown surmounted by two five-pointed stars at the top. Obverse embroidered in the center: "GARDE IMPERIALE L'EMPEREUR NAPOLEON AU 2me REGIMENT DES GRENADIERS A PIED". Revers embroidered in central part: "MARINGO, ULM, AUSTERLITZ, JENA, EYLAU, FRIEDLAND, ECKMÜHL, ESSLING, WAGRAM, SMOLENSK, MOSKOWA - VIENNE, BERLIN, MADRID, MOSCOW". 80 x 80 cm. Length of fringe: 2.5 cm. Given to the regiment in May 1813. Condition report: The flag is in fairly good condition, given the fragility of this type of souvenir. The embroidery is complete, and has retained its gilding. The colors of the silk are insolated, with some loss and wear, particularly on the reverse on the blue band. Provenance: -Presented to Marshal Oudinot, Duke of Reggio, by King XVIII, in May 1814. - Since presented at the Château de Touvet, with the 1815 model flag eagle. A copy of the attestation (2006) from Marshal Oudinot's descendant confirming that this souvenir has remained in his family since the 19th century will be attached to the flag. -Jean Louis Noisiez Collection. Related work: Flags from the First Empire period are rare, as are those of the Imperial Guard. We must mention the counterpart of our flag, the model 1812 of the 1st Regiment of Foot Grenadiers of the Guard. Kept in the collections of the Musée de l'Armée, this is the flag that the Emperor held close to him during the farewell ceremony. It was given to General Petit by Drouot. Historical background: The mythical flag of the 2nd Regiment of Foot Grenadiers of the Guard was given to Marshal Oudinot by King Louis XVIII during the 1st Restoration. Marshal Oudinot, who had commanded the young Guard in 1814, became commander of the Grenadiers and Chasseurs de France, the successors to the Guard infantry, under the 1st Restoration. Inherited from the grenadiers of the Dutch Royal Guard, the 2nd Regiment of Foot Grenadiers of the Guard was commanded by Colonel Christiani. It distinguished itself during the French campaign at Vauchamps and Laon. Bibliography Général REGNAULT, " Les aigles impériales 1804-1815 ", Peyronnet, 1967, reproduced figures 36 and 37, p.142 (documentation Raoul et Jean Brunon)