Wide range of high quality precious objects in Hermann Historica's autumn auction

MUNICH.- This year's Autumn Auction at Hermann Historica oHG will take place from 3rd to 8th November 2014 and promises the usual wide range of high quality precious objects from all eras and originating from all over the world. More than 5,000 lots from all specialist areas represented by the auction house are to come under the hammer – antiquities, arms and armour, works of art, hunting antiques, orders and collectibles from all fields of history and military history.

Antiquities

The antiquities section includes a variety of unique and exquisitely worked objects that were crafted by gold and silversmiths in ancient times; some artefacts are known to have formed part of prestigious collections for many years. One particular showstopper is an exceptionally appealing gold medallion, etched with a portrait of Nike and dating from the third to second century B.C. Depicted with her characteristic wings, the central bust of the goddess is surrounded by ornaments and flowers. The beautifully wrought masterpiece of Hellenistic jewellery is completely intact and has an eyelet for mounting on the back. The price reflects the rarity and condition of this fine goldsmith's work, which is open to bids from 25,000 euros. Furthermore, the early bronze helmets on offer include several veritable rarities, among them an Illyrian helmet in impeccable condition, dating from the late seventh to the middle of the sixth century B.C. Forged in one single piece, the skull is of distinct design with two parallel hammered ridges and the typically clean lines of the face opening, framed by a border of rivets. The attractive helmet has a starting price of 7,000 euros; moreover, an antique repair on the left cheek attests to its actual combat worthiness. Originating from the golden age of the Ptolemaic dynasty, third to second century B.C., is an Egyptian funerary mask, which is also in excellent condition. Made of cartonnage coated with plaster and brightly painted in different colours, the mask is expected to fetch a minimum of 8,000 euros.

Finally, antique-style marble sculptures that were produced in more modern times, yet are none the less expressive and aesthetically pleasing, round off the array of objects for sale. Originally from the estate of a noble Austrian family, a Venus de‘ Medici with superb sculptural workmanship and standing 1.57 metres tall, will come under the hammer for 45,000 euros. Bids are invited from 15,000 euros for a marble sculpture of Emperor Caligula, crowned with a laurel wreath; the technical features and style indicate that the bust was made by the baroque sculptor Nicolas Custou (1658 - 1733).

Works of art

According to tradition, the arms and armour section opens with works of art, presenting artefacts in contemporary gold and silversmiths' craftsmanship of the greatest virtuosity. Once again, the autumn auction has a number of precious wunderkammer objects in store, including a signed, lavishly gilded and engraved miniature casket, made in 1600 by Michael Mann of Nuremberg, with its captivating and exquisite contemporary décor. Measuring a mere 4 x 7.5 x 5 cm, this dainty bijou is estimated at 5,000 euros. Next is an exceptionally decorative set of six St. George cups, splendidly worked in solid gold. The lids of the footed drinking cups are exquisitely fashioned in baroque style and decorated with figurative pommels in coloured enamel, depicting St. George on horseback. With a reserve of 32,500 euros, the set has a total weight of 992.4 grams and a gold content of 20 carat. Each standing 15.5 centimetres tall, the drinking cups are stamped with historicising hallmarks in the style of the city of Vienna and the year "1779". Unrivalled in its magnificence is a challenge trophy for the German Chess Championship, open to bids from 35,000 euros. Produced in the renowned silversmith's workshop, J. C. Klinkosch AG, which was regarded as one of Vienna's finest addresses, the composition of the trophy alone leaves no doubt as to its purpose. The imposing tower, partially fire-gilt and forty centimetres high, is crafted with the highest quality workmanship in ivory and silver to represent a chess piece, the rook. The entire surface of the octagonal panels is inlaid with finely grained ivory plaques and edged with a silver-mounted decorative frieze set with black and white stones, while all figures from the game of kings are sculptured in solid silver. Two recesses on the front and back reveal the king and queen in silver, bearing their gilt insignia of power. The base plate, likewise in silver, is borne aloft by eight kneeling pawns; the rook itself is crowned with a group of chessmen, comprised of bishops and knights, on a removable platform with crenellations around the edge.

Arms and armour

The antique arms and armour section promises interested buyers a variety of exceptional collectors' items, for example an outstanding selection of rare and perfectly preserved 16th century shields. In truly wonderful condition is a leather-covered, wooden circular parade shield, made in Venice for the trabant guard serving under Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, Prince Bishop of Salzburg from 1587 - 1612. The central cartouche is intricately painted with a coat of arms in elegant hues, surrounded by opulent arabesques and floral decoration: the shield is listed at 25,000 euros. Much weightier by comparison is a heavy iron parade shield from Dresden with a quadrangular spike screwed in the centre; the circular shield is embellished with a continuous border of decorative bands in gilt brass with embossed, chased floral decoration and 16 sculpted lion's heads. Weighing an impressive 7.56 kg, the bullet-proof shield is expected to fetch a minimum of 12,000 euros. Also up for auction, and with the same limit, is a South German or Austrian hand shield, dated 1522, of documented provenance in the inventory of the Arms Collection at Sighartstein Castle, near Salzburg. The slightly curved shield of spruce wood has a coarse linen cover on the entire outer surface over a layer of animal sinews fixed with glue; a cross with a sun burst is elaborately painted in colour on the front, while the back still bears the original, riveted shield grip.

Protecting human combatants was evidently not the armourer's only priority during the Middle Ages, as demonstrated by a late-Gothic chamfron from Germany, circa 1500/1510. Forged in several pieces with finely roped and turned flanges, an eye-catching ridged rosette and an integrated iron socket for a plume, the chamfron has a reserve of 15,000 euros. Equally worthy of note are a beautifully made, etched cuirass bearing the Medici coat of arms, Pisa 1590, which is listed at 10,000 euros, and a German cuirassier's close helmet, circa 1620, impressively bullet proof and almost completely intact, which is open to bids from 4,500 euros.

The range of edged weapons for sale is no less enticing, including a highly appealing German medieval hand-and-a-half sword from the second half of the 14th century. Of flattened hexagonal section with a brass inlaid Habsburg linden leaf mark, stylised wolf and cross potent in a circle on both sides, the blade will take pride of place in a new collection from 25,000 euros. Furthermore, an original South German two-hand sword from the workshop of the renowned bladesmith Diefstetter, dated circa 1550, is valued at 13,000 euros while an extremely rare, authentic German executioner's sword and scabbard, forged in the same atelier with all parts original, is on offer for 7,500 euros; an exceptionally fine, silver-mounted deluxe hunting hanger in princely quality, likewise of German manufacture circa 1730, will come under the hammer for 15,000 euros.

Asia, Orient and Africa

Once again this autumn, the quality and diversity of the lots from Africa, the Ottoman Empire, India, Japan and China are outstanding. One of the highlights of the auction is an exceedingly high-quality Persian set of armour, comprising helmet, shield and arm guard, which was forged at the turn of the 19th century. Decorated en suite with gold-inlaid ornaments, silver inlays in places and superlative chiselling work, the ensemble, starting at 25,000 euros, attests to the exquisite craftsmanship of the oriental armourers. Of much earlier date but no less superbly wrought is an Ottoman/Hungarian hetman's mace from the first half of the 17th century, for which bidding opens at 22,000 euros. Similar to the marshal's baton, the field sign was used by an army commander and is entirely covered in sheet silver; the head of ten flanges is fire-gilt and finely engraved with floral decoration, whereas the haft is chased with intricate arabesques. There has been an ever-growing enthusiasm for elaborately crafted edged weapons among international collectors for a number of years. The diverse lots remain as compelling as ever, from a silver-mounted Ottoman khanjar that was forged during the Turkish Wars, estimated at 9,500 euros, to a Japanese katana from the Meiji period (1868 - 1912), its ivory handle carved in high relief, starting at 7,000 euros. Awe-inspiring objects from China include jade carvings, numerous pieces of porcelain and superb belt buckles, like the gorgeous bijou in fire-gilt bronze with floral decoration on a plate of green jade and bat motifs in rose quartz, which has been moderately estimated at 1,400 euros. With a limit of 8,000 euros, a bronze figure of the Buddha from the Ming dynasty, seated in dignified serenity on a lotus throne, rounds off the objects in this section.

Military history and historical objects

The military history and historical objects section is a veritable treasure trove of documents and collectors' items of momentous historical significance pertaining to the outbreak and course of World War I. These include the official letter issued by the British government on August 4th, 1914 to protest against a potential violation of Belgian neutrality by the German army. The document was delivered into the hands of Gottlieb von Jagow (1863 - 1935), the State Secretary in the Foreign Office in Berlin, by the British Ambassador, Sir Edward Goschen (1847 - 1924). The meticulous, handwritten notes in the margin, so characteristic of German bureaucracy, vividly convey the escalation of events shortly before World War I broke out; the "Aide Mémoire" may be acquired for 4,500 euros. Equally fascinating and opening at 1,000 euros is the document of appointment issued by Kaiser Wilhelm II (1859 - 1941) to the experienced field commander, Prince Leopold of Bavaria (1846 - 1930), as Supreme Commander of the Eastern Front and dated August 29th, 1916. Moreover, this auction offers the unique opportunity to acquire memorabilia and a complete collection of decorations bestowed on a Zeppelin commander. Bids are invited from 6,000 euros for the vivid documentation of an entire era from the estate of the highly decorated Kapitänleutnant and Zeppelin captain Richard Frey. The personal photograph album belonging to the military pilot Ernst Udet (1896 - 1941), winner of numerous orders, accords a profound insight into the life of a World War I fighter pilot. Taken during the early autumn of 1915, the approximately 160 photographs show his comrades, some standing next to their planes, as well as various scenes of war. With its documented provenance, this impressive photographic record will certainly grace a new collection for 6,500 euros.

Lot number 4502 refers to a commendation certificate for a world-famous French pilot in World War II, awarded posthumously to Antoine Marie Vicomte de Saint-Exupéry (1900 - 1944). Issued by the French Air Force on March 8th, 1950 and published in the Official Journal, this document is the only military certificate awarded to the author of "The Little Prince", who had been reported missing in action in 1944. The document comes from the de Saint-Exupéry family and is expected to fetch 4,500 euros.

In addition, significant collectors' items from the courts of Europe's ruling houses are offered for auction once again. For 8,000 euros apiece, collectors may purchase two uniforms from the personal wardrobe of Kaiser Franz Joseph I of Austria, namely a field-grey litewka with matching trousers as Prussian general field marshal and a fur-trimmed attila with matching parade trousers as proprietor of the 16th Hussar Regiment Kaiser Franz Joseph of Austria, King of Hungary (Schleswig-Holstein). Also outstanding are the exclusive edged weapons of German provenance, like the rare and distinguished M 1886 sword for officers of the Queen Augusta Guard Grenadier Regiment No. 4, for 2,200 euros, and unusual helmets, like the exceptional czapka for an officer of the 2nd Uhlans Guard Regiment of Prussia circa 1900, for 4,900 euros.

Certain famous names and unparalleled historical artefacts from their workshops will delight buyers interested in Russian military objects. An imposing, magnificent M 1881/1909 shashka with a gilt and blued blade, which was forged in Zlatoust for officers of the Russian dragoons, is estimated at 15,000 euros. Likewise an extremely rare and finely embroidered Russian sabretache for hussar officers, in red velvet with gold braiding and the cipher "N II" for Tsar Nicholas, which was made around the turn of the twentieth century. Bidding starts from 10,000 euros for a sabre of superior quality from the Evgeny Mollo collection. Both sides of the blade are embellished with exquisite etchings of floral cartouches and military scenes, still retaining remnants of the gilding, the obverse struck with the tsarist cipher "A III" and the year "1882" on the reverse.

Orders and Insignia

The parade of exceptional lots opens with a group of 18th and early 19th century orders from older Italian states, of which any museum would be proud: a singular collection, both in terms of quantity and quality, such as is very rarely found on the market. Originally from the noble Ferrero della Marmora family, established since the 14th century in Biella, Piemont, the awards are to be divided into two parts; they feature a unique decoration, the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation as a chain of the order with a double badge and a breast star, presented to Filippo Ferrero della Marmora (1719 - 1789) in 1780. This eminent order from the estate of the distinguished family is open to bids from 40,000 euros. The next object for sale is the Military Order of Savoy (Ordine militare di Savoia), the Militant's Cross of the first model of 1815, with a limit of 5,000 euros. Also coming under the hammer are two decorations awarded by the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, both superbly wrought in solid gold and adorned with gemstones. An Order of Saint Stephen is expected to fetch 18,000 euros, while an older medal, dating from the 18th century is valued at 16,000 euros.

Finally, two orders of German provenance are sure to delight buyers: firstly, the Grand Commander's Star with Swords, the highest category of the House Order of Hohenzollern and a legendary war decoration that was reserved for field commanders is listed at 17,000 euros, followed by the Commander's Cross of the Military Order of St. Henry in its presentation case, with a starting price of 12,000 euros.

Fine antique and modern firearms

Once again, the antique firearms section is a collector's dream come true. The pièces de résistance in the Autumn Auction boast a sensational rarity and quality that are otherwise difficult to obtain on the market. These include a pair of deluxe flintlock pistols from the armoury of Tsarina Elisabeth Petrovna (1709 - 1762), which were manufactured circa 1760 in Petersburg. Magnificently crafted, with engraved and chiselled decoration of a cupid amidst trophy bundles on a gold ground, her crowned cipher and the Russian double-headed eagle struck at the breeches, the pistols are being offered for auction from 60,000 euros. From the workshop of Jacob Conrad Grossmann in Giessen, a deluxe flintlock rifle/shotgun combination from circa 1805 of noble German provenance, namely the court of Elector Wilhelm I of Hesse-Kassel (1743 - 1821) has a limit of 11,000 euros. Here again, the gun is lavishly adorned with silver inlays and carvings. Next, a very early masterpiece, an imposing double-barrelled wheellock puffer dated 1598, probably from Saxony, bears testimony to the fine art of gunmaking. Entirely covered in bone inlays, the whole weapon is embellished with hunting motifs and mythical creatures. Bids are invited from 35,000 euros for this decorative and highly interesting piece.

All prices are net prices and are to be understood plus 23 percent surcharge.