Located in the middle of the beautiful Altmühltal park in Germany, Greding Castle offers the perfect setting for Hermann Historica's auction of 246 art and military historical treasures sourced from palaces and castles on 25 September.
The auction will be a joint effort between Hermann Historica and the art trading company Ehrl Fine Art & Antiques, which is located in the castle. The art and military historical treasures on offer date back to antiquity, the Middle Ages, the early modern period and the 20th century.
One of the ancient highlights is undoubtedly a pair of early Hellenistic gold bracelets from the 4th-3rd centuries. The extremely fine design with highly intricate decor and Medusa heads indicates a courtly context. This wonderful example of archaic goldsmithing is estimated to be worth €75,000.
For more than double that amount, namely €180,000, another lot from classical antiquity being called up is an exceptionally large bronze eagle. In addition to its size, the piece impresses with the naturalistic and fine elaboration of the plumage.
From the the Middle Ages is a lion aquamanile that was made in Lower Saxony in the 14th century. Aquamaniles come from the Orient and found their way to Europe in the Middle Ages, where they were used to wash hands in a liturgical context and at court feasts. The present copy is valued at €45,000.
The invention of the printing press is considered to be one of those events that brought the Middle Ages into the modern era. The early works of this new art included numerous illustrated world chronicles, of which The Book of Chronicles by the Nuremberg historian Hartmann Schedel is the most magnificent. A German first edition of 1493 for €35,000 will be offered in the auction.
The 15th century also leads to the military historical treasures of the catalogue. Particularly noteworthy here is a Gothic field armour, which was partly made in Innsbruck, probably by Jörg Treytz from the Treytz armorer family based there. The sophisticated piece is offered for €60,000.
An exceptionally beautiful protective weapon is a gold inlaid Milan parade shield from 1560/70, decorated with antique warriors and estimated at €30,000.
The highlights from the 'Sacred Art' category date from the 17th century. First of all, reference should be made to a Gothic altar from South Tyrol, which was carved in wood around 1600 and framed in polychrome and has elements of the early Renaissance. The altar is marked in the centre by a Madonna with a blessing Christ Child and is called for €35,000.
On the eve of its artistic heyday in the second half of the 17th century, a crucifix was made in the Florentine Giambologna workshop, of which only the gilded Christ body present in the auction has survived. Collectors must invest at least €30,000 in the expressive work of art.
With its 241 x 161 cm, the Flemish altar painting is truly monumental. It is also in price: €120,000. The monogram on the sacred still life, which is supplemented by angels, refers to the Antwerp master Guiliam Gabron (1619-1678).
At €110,000, this micro-mosaic by the Rome-based artist Gioacchino Rinaldi, created around 1810, shows the ancient round temple of Vesta. Micro-mosaics with the most famous buildings of ancient Rome were a popular souvenir from travellers to Italy in the 18th and 19th centuries.
This highly significant pair of luxury percussion pistols from the Parisian gunsmith Devisme dates from the 19th century, more precisely from the year 1845. Weapons from the workshop were presented and awarded at the world exhibition. Presumably the pair on hand was also made for exhibition purposes. Its starting price is €80,000.
There also will be many high-quality ivory works from the 19th century at the auction. Particularly noteworthy is a large oval display from around 1860, which adorns figures from Greek mythology on the front. The starting price for the magnificent piece is €28,000.
The auction "From Castles and Palaces: selected arts and crafts from antiquity to the 20th century' is taking place on 25 September at Greding Castle.
Discover more lots from the catalogue right here on Barnebys