Partial sword guard-specific id needed

[DownNDirty]

I dug this piece of a sword guard from a home site in South Carolina yesterday. Based on the recovered flat buttons without back marks, shoe buckle pieces, etc. that I have dug there the home site dates back to the 18th century. The area was first settled in the 1730s with most of the land grants dating to the mid to late 1700s.

Based on the open-work design the sword could likely have been French but I don't have enough knowledge of swords to know for sure. As you can see, on one side is the bust of a woman wearing a crown and the other side has a man's bust (no crown); obviously the woman was a queen but not the man.

 

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[DownNDirty]

bump

 

[jewelerguy]

if French, you'd think Napoleon and Josephine since she is portrayed with a crown quite often, but that guy has too much hair and looks like he has a mustache. Then you think possibly British Queen Victoria and George V, but the guy on the sword looks to have curly hair. Is it Isabella II of Spain and Francis? I dunno, maybe someone can figure it out

 

[DownNDirty]

if French, you'd think Napoleon and Josephine since she is portrayed with a crown quite often, but that guy has too much hair and looks like he has a mustache. Then you think possibly British Queen Victoria and George V, but the guy on the sword looks to have curly hair. Is it Isabella II of Spain and Francis? I dunno, maybe someone can figure it out

Thanks for the guesses; I'm pretty sure the guard is from the 18th century which predates the names you mentioned. But I appreciate the reply.

 

[DCMatt]

It's tough to get a good look at that crown. I'm no sword expert but based on others I saw, I'd guess the guard is from a French 'court sword' or 'small-sword'.

I will point out that the female image on your piece is not 'wearing' the crown. The crown is over her - meaning she's not the one in charge... She is under or below the crown.

The general shape of the crown looks French (I guess...), so maybe it's Marie Leszczyńska Queen to Louis XV? That would date it 1725 - 1768.

I don't get anything from the male image. If it's Louis XV, it is simply a representation of him, not a likeness.

 

[DownNDirty]

Thanks Matt-that is very helpful.

 

[DownNDirty]

Following your lead I did some research on Marie. She was (like pretty much all others married to French kings) a "queen consort" and did not have a coronation. Hence she could not officially wear a crown. Just a thought, but maybe the crown is over her head but not touching it as symbolism that she was a consort and not a crowned queen?