From the birthplace of chess impress two most intricate Indian chess games, dated 1884, as well as two pachisi games.

MUNICH.- From October 14 to 23 this year's autumn auction of Hermann Historica oHG will take place, as usual with a wide range of high-quality offerings. Approximately 5,370 lots from all segments of the auction house – antiquities, arms and armour, arts and crafts, hunting collectibles, orders and decorations as well as collectibles from history and military history – will be offered for bidding.

Antiquities
Once again this autumn the wide variety of early helmets in good condition in the antiquities catalogue is impressive. For example, an extremely rare Bronze Age helmet from Central Europe that has been manufactured circa 1,000 BC. For this early piece with circumferential decoration chased from the eponymous material of its time of origin, the bronze, at least 12,500 Euros have to be paid. However, an Illyrian helmet from the sixth century BC, also made from bronze and with a border of lenticular decorative rivets, can be purchased starting at 8,000 Euros. Equally pleasing is the multitude of the antique edged weapons which are offered, ranging from Bronze Age swords from South Germany, put up for auction starting at 4,000 Euros, to an exceptional Roman dagger, a so-called pugio, from the 1st/2nd century BC. The dagger features the typical leaf-shaped iron blade, and is going to be put up for auction starting at 4,500 Euros. Among the non-military objects a Thracian pectoral made from gold with two ornamental studs, circa 800 BC, and a Roman bronze jug with three-dimensionally worked lid from the first century AD are the most outstanding. Whereas at least 15,000 Euros have to be paid for the pectoral, the high-quality bulbous jug with three-dimensional handles and finest patina can find a new owner starting at 10,000 Euros.

Arms and armour, arts and crafts
As usual, hunting collectibles and arts and crafts open the catalogue of antique arms. Beside historical hunting trophies, here the painting “Oriental lion's hunt”, German circa 1700 - 1720, is especially intriguing. In this dramatic depiction a lion, already wounded, drags his mounted attacker and his horse to the ground. The multi-figured picture in the dimensions of 57.5 by 81 centimetres is put up for auction at 4,500 Euros. Of the same high artistic quality is the painting “lamentation of Christ” from the late 16th century that is ascribed to the Antwerp School. In the middle of the scene the body of Christ is laid out, surrounded by Mary, Mary Magdalene and John as well as two mourning women and three angels. The estimate for the painting in oil on wood with dimensions of 75 by 104 centimetres amounts to 9,000 Euros.

A piece of museum quality is offered for bidding with a romanesque tripodal candle holder from the eleventh/twelfth century. Figures made from tin in relief form the two tiers of the candle holder that is crowned by a curved dripping pan with floral decorations. Objects of this type are known from the North and Baltic Sea region, however, it remains unclear where the production centres were located. But rarity has its price, at least 12,000 Euros bid for this early candle holder, comparandums of which are documented in museums. Two further objects that couldn't be more different, also bear witness to the impressive skills of the craftsmen. A significant French war chest from the first half of the 18th century that is unusually massive, its high-grade and precise locking mechanism with 17 latches complying with the highest safety standards of the time, and that is, far from merely being functional, decorated with a lying cupid as lock cover. With more than 150 kilograms and the original key, the chest is estimated at 8,000 Euros. From another time and of a lighter material, a rhinoceros horn beaker, figuratively carved with bathing girls, is offered for bidding at 18,000 Euros. Manufactured in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century and weighing approximately two kilograms, the foot and the upper rim of the high relief are mounted in silver.

Once again special collector's items with remarkable provenances are also among the antique arms and armours. An extremely rare, finely etched halberd from the guard of Ferdinand of Bavaria (1550 - 1608) is dated 1584. For 12,000 Euros the hafted weapon, decorated with the Bavarian coat of arms, a crowned heart and circumferential motto, is put up for auction. Equally beautiful is a baroque South German splendid hunting hanger in princely quality. Manufactured at the turn of the 17th/18th century, the weapon impresses with lavish ornamental etching depicting hunting motifs and tendrils. The figuratively carved ivory grip, the leather scabbard as well as the dovetailed bone knife complete the high-quality impression of this edged weapon, offered for bidding at 6,000 Euros.

Sensationally rare and of a quality that can hardly be found on the market is a pair of Gothic gauntlets, German circa 1470/80. The slender, finely worked gauntlets with sophisticated fluting and finger protection sliding on two lames provided for optimal protection for the bearer, as well as maximum mobility. Marked and of extraordinary quality and condition, comparandums can only be found in the most notable museums of the world, these evidences of finest armourer's art have to be worth at least 10,000 Euros to a bidder. From circa 1500 and probably manufactured in Innsbruck is a pair of light knightly gauntlets with finger protection sliding on five lames and remnants of fire-gilding. This kind of technical design hints at the environment of the famous armourers' family Treytz in Innsbruck. The hand protection can be purchased starting at 6,000 Euros. Also in very good condition are Gothic arm defences from the time of circa 1480/90 that have been estimated at 8,000 Euros. A treasure regarding armourer's art is put up for auction with an important miniature armour from the workshop of E. Granger, who was working in Paris during the first half of the 19th century. Knight and horse are designed in the style of 1530/40. All parts of the armour are reproduced in finest quality according to the originals, and fully movable as well as functional. (Starting price 8,000 Euros).

Africa, Orient and Asia
As compelling as usual regarding quality and variety are the offered lots from Africa, the Ottoman Empire, India as well as Japan and China. Outstandingly beautiful and equipped with rich symbolism is a Chinese rhinoceros horn beaker from the 18th century. The caramel to amber-coloured beaker is completely carved in the shape of a wreath of lotus flowers and leaves as well as millet and arrowhead. Purity, generosity and abundance in times of dearth are the values symbolised in the carving. Starting at 24,000 Euros this impressive example of a lotus bouquet beaker can be won.

Also from the China of the 18th/19th century comes a pair of cloisonné vases. Enamelled with flowers and tendrils in well-chosen colourfulness, the vases of 25.7 centimetres each are going to be put up for auction at 3,500 Euros. A completely different way of manufacturing rhinoceros horn is exhibited by two African knobkerries. The available historical weapons from the South African Zulu/Nguni have been worked in one piece from horn and are equipped with a heavy head, partially carved with graphical ornaments. The estimates for these rare striking weapons amount to 3,500 and 5,000 Euros.

From the Orient, beside a large number of preciously worked weapons, especially two extraordinarily beautiful chamfrons strike the eye. The wrought-iron chamfrons originate from Eastern Anatolia or West Iran and can be attributed to the early 17th century. The starting prices of the chamfrons, both marked with the signet of the Saint Irene arsenal in Constantinople, amount to 9,000 and 12,000 Euros. From the birthplace of chess impress two most intricate Indian chess games, dated 1884, as well as two pachisi games. The figures made from coloured bone with silver appliqués partially feature carved naturalistic heads. The rare and complete game sets for women and men, who usually used to play separately, are stored together in a brass-mounted mahogany case. Starting at 9,800 Euros this unique ensemble is put up for auction.

A selection of rare gothic armour pieces comprising of a collar, a pair of full arm defences and a pair of gauntlets, German circa 1480.

Objects from history and military history

For collectors of imperial German militaria, the autumn auction offers the rare opportunity to enlarge their collections by unique reference samples from that epoch. With the W. Baer Collection several hundred objects, such as helmets, uniforms, equipment and guns, particularly from the time of World War I, are going to be put up for auction. The famous specialist author and renowned militaria expert compiled this matchless collection mainly during the 1960s and 1970s. Now Hermann Historica was accorded the honour of finding new owners for the items.

The constant demand for memorabilia from the European royal houses, too, can once again be attended to correspondingly. Be it by means of a highly important gilt and etched presentation sabre to Prince Henry of Prussia (1862 - 1929), starting price 35,000 Euros, which he was awarded on the occasion of his journey to the USA from the German Patriotic Relief Association of Philadelphia in 1902, of a rare crossbow, a so-called “Vogelarmbrust” from the legacy of Prince Leopold of Bavaria (1846 - 1930), starting price 9,500 Euros, or of the personal attila tunic as chief of the second Westphalian Hussar's Regiment no. 11 from the last emperor of Austria, Emperor Carl I (1887 - 1922), which is going to be called up at 18,500 Euros. Also worth mentioning is a pair of silver magnolia candle holders, a present for Emperor Franz Josef I and Empress Elizabeth on the occasion of their silver wedding in 1879, from the family of the head of the general accounting office, von Kaiser. This exquisite work of wrought silver has to be worth at least 15,000 Euros to its new owner.

For years the interest in historical photographs as documentations of their time has been constantly growing. Thus the auctioning of unique albums, such as the ones from the personal legacy of the imperial couple, starting at 5,000 Euros each, or four aviation albums from the time of 1914 - 1918, starting at 4,000 – 6,000 Euros, can be expected with great excitement.

Among the Russian objects high-quality and precious works from the tsaristic court are fascinating. Very beautiful a Cossack's shashka from 1838 for 20,000 Euros from the art department of the Zlatoust arms factory with gold-inlaid cartouches on both sides, partially decorated with ruler's crown, partially with tsar's cipher. A miniature portrait in gouache and watercolour on bone, of Prince Nikolay Feliksovitsh Yusupov Count Sumarikov-Elston (1883 - 1908), representative of one of the most famous and wealthiest families of the country, is put up for auction at 13,000 Euros.

Not only men made history, a fact that is proven by the adventurous life of Countess Mary von der Borch (1895 - 1969), who went to war for Russia from 1916 on, disguised as a man, under the pseudonym Vladimir Count von der Borch, who was honoured for bravery in 1917, who was licensed as pilot and fought against the Red Army, who went to Finland as a secret courier and who married the man who discovered her real identity, Major General Peter von Glasenapp, in 1921. The Cross for Loyalty and Service for Russia 1918 - 1920 awarded to her, is going to be offered for bidding starting at 1,500 Euros. Again, real rarities can be found in the orders and decorations section, such as the complete legacy of orders from general of division of World War I and winner of the Pour le Mérite Major General Wilhelm von Groddeck. Starting at 50,000 Euros this group of orders can be purchased. However, at least 38,500 Euros have to be paid for the group of distinctions and certificates from the Westphalian Pour le Mérite knight and later lieutenant colonel Heinrich Brinkord (1882 - 1965).

Fine antique and modern firearms
This autumn the assortment of high-quality, antique firearms is again very exclusive, especially regarding wheellock weapons: From a splendid bone inlaid German wheellock rifle from the 17th century, estimated at 15,000 Euros, to a cased pair of percussion pistols, made by Gastinne-Renette, Paris, for 12,000 Euros, to weapons from royal courts. One outstanding example from the personal legacy of Tsarina Elisabeth Petrovna (1709 - 1762) is a cut, lavishly engraved and gilt flintlock shotgun from Thula, dated 1741. Rarity, provenance and museum quality find their expression in the estimate that was set at 60,000 Euros. No less important regarding history is a significant pair of Alsatian bronze falconets from the year 1554, put up for auction at a starting price of 75,000 Euros. In 1811, according to the personal order of Napoleon, the set originally consisting of six cannons, was supposed to be melt down. The city consequently released four of the cannons, which were destroyed afterwards. The pair at hand was hidden until the fall of the First Empire and could be preserved.

All prices are net prices and are to be understood plus 23 percent surcharge. The pre-sale viewing will take place from October 09 to 13 and October 21 on the premises of Hermann Historica oHG.

A significant pair of Alsatian bronze falconets from the year 1554.