19th Century Napoleonic Second Empire Imperial Gilt Bronze Eagle of the French National Guard mounted on a later polished stone base incised with a gilt letter N.  The 1852 model of this eagle (as our example) was cast in bronze and gilt. By 1854 the metal composition had been adjusted to a much lighter galvanoplasty model and electroplated. n 1860 the design was further amended, now cast in aluminum and gilt, and the head turned to the left.

Our example dates to the earliest 1852 manufacture of this model by Barre. It is distinctly more animated and lifelike than the earlier models, its head turned to the right, elevated and beak open.