A Victorian silver letter opener, the long tapering blade with case terminal modelled as a double sided French Imperial eagle, bearing maker’s mark for Francis Higgins II, hallmarked for London, 1853, with case, length 23.5cm. £200-£240

The French Imperial eagle (Aigle de drapeau) refers to the figure of an eagle, raised on a staff, and carried into battle as a standard by the Grande Armée of Napoleon during the Napoleonic Wars, 18 May 1803 - 20 November 1815.