Hermann Historica’s big four
We covered the first two of Hermann Historica’s four auctions from May last month, so now it’s the turn of Antique Arms and Armour and Military Collectibles from 1919. First up then, the classic arms auction and an Ottoman kilic, c. 1800. Typically shaped, curved blade made of Wootz Damascus with a pronounced jelman, cut and T-shaped back and fine, elaborate gold inlay decoration. Simple but elegant, high-quality weapon, it hammered for €4,000 (plus 22.5% BP). Even more fancy than that, was a large Cretan, silver-mounted yatagan, dated 1805. Typically curved single-edged blade with smith mark truck on the reverse. Collar and grip made of sheet silver, richly decorated in repousée and chasing. The wooden scabbard covered in sheet silver, finely chased with trophy bundles, architectural scenes, and flower vases between floral ornaments. This went for €5,400.
Topping that sword though was a goldmounted saif with wootz-blade and mounted stones, Arabic peninsula, 19th century. Featuring a slightly curved single-edged blade of fine Wootz steel with double-edged point and narrow fuller on both sides. The collar wrapped with gold wire, grip panels covered with sheet gold, grip strap crafted in gold filigree. Pommel cap of engraved sheet gold with attached gold knuckle chain. That went for a hefty €9,500.
On to some protection now and a Persian sipar, or round shield, from the 19th century. This was an iron shield with a strong curvature and four small, semi-circular shield bosses as well as a central one in the shape of a human face. Finely
cut floral decoration in the centre as well as inscription medallions in the outer register, brass break edge all around. Diameter 47cm. It hammered for €3,400.
Not everything required a mortgage to buy, here was a richly decorated, 20th century Sino-Tibetan saddle. Polychrome wooden saddle. The seat covered with thick felt, richly chased and stamped nickel-silver mounts. Saddle pad of polychrome leather with fine piping. Including original straps with iron stirrups. Length of saddle 47 cm. It galloped into the sunset for €640.
Let’s finish with this auction with a spectacular full suit of German field armour, c. 1600. Open burgonet, the skull forged in two pieces, with a tall, roped comb. Ridged peak (repaired at the base) with a delicately turned and roped edge. Hinged cheek protectors, each with six small pierced openings for hearing, also with a turned and roped edge. A suit of armour for the field in attractive, well restored quality. Beautifully assembled from old components. This went for €13,500.
In the Military
Collectibles from 1919 auction there were a number of items from the
NSDAP leadership including some of Hermann
Göring’s items.
There was a pocket watch, given as a gift after the failed Beer
Hall Putsch in which
Hermann was injured. The silver watch with hunter case came from the workshop of Gustav Schulze, court watchmaker in Munich. High-quality movement mounted with rubies, with hour repeater. A finely engraved depiction of St. George on the front, St. Hubert on the back. The dedication around the St. Hubert scene reads (tr.): ‘To my beloved Hermann, Waidmannsheil (Hunter’s greeting) always, from his Carin, Innsbruck, 12 January 1924’. This went for a hefty €13,500. Some of the more unusual items were the parts of a huntingthemed dinner service that were individually auction off. So, if you ever wanted a KPM gravy boat with wild geese and ducks that Hermann might have used to pour gravy over his sauerkraut, then it could have been yours for €1,600. There were quite a few bits and pieces that Adolf Hitler had signed, including this next lot, a place card from a gala dinner. Handwritten ink autograph ‘Adolf Hitler Bayreuth 1938’, cut out of a place card, width approximately 9cm, height 5cm. The card comes from a gala dinner at the Bayreuth Festival along with four photos in different sizes, 1934-40, of the singer Hill Oswald-Thoss and her husband, the concertmaster Prof. Eduard Oswald, also with Wilhelm Furtwängler as well as a close-up of the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, partly inscribed on the back. The lot hammered for €1,300.
Hitler’s favourite photographer was, of course, Leni Riefenstahl and here we have a signed print of a photo by Leni given as a personal gift to Albert Speer. It’s a gelatin silver print. Dimensions of photo 22cm x 28cm, framed and under glass, with handwritten signature ‘Leni Riefenstahl’ and title of ‘Ausklang’ (translates as ‘Conclusion’). It sold for a spicy €7,000.
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