The Andreas Thies auction house in Nürtingen has been trading in high-quality military-historical collectables since 1985, and their upcoming sale consists of a range of items including uniforms, medals and memorabilia. There are also many precious objects and works of art that were diplomatic gifts between heads of state and other high-ranking officials, a past that lends an unparalleled historic value to their intrinsic worth.
The Chairman of the State Council of the German Democratic Republic, Erich Honecker, received this model yacht as a gift from Emir Jabir al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah, the then head of state of Kuwait. The silver yacht is impressively detailed, and the maker’s mark reveals that it was created by the London jeweller Garrard & Co, who was the court jeweller to the British royal family from 1843 to 2007 and made Princess Diana’s legendary engagement ring.
Although he was not a head of state himself, Prince Tommaso di Savoia-Genova, nephew of the first and cousin of the second king of the united Italy, received a truly spectacular gift: a lavishly decorated sword of the Chinese Imperial Guard. The handle is made from a single piece of hard stone, and the embossed silver scabbard is decorated with coral, turquoise and lapis lazuli as well as eight Chinese symbols made of cut jade.
In 1861, Ferdinand Maximilian Karl Leopold Maria of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was born in Vienna. He became prince in 1887, then ascended to Tsar of Bulgaria in 1908. His house scepter is now appearing at auction, an item that he used as a mark of dignity, especially in his private life.
The most famous tsars, of course, are those who ruled Russia. Two important lots are related to the Russian imperial family, including a very rare gala uniform of a Russian ambassador or high dignitary. The ensemble is complete with a bicorne and is covered in sumptuous embroidery of the highest quality.
The other object is a silver cigarette case from the House of Fabergé with a coin of Tsar Peter I inserted in the lid. The creator was the foreman Anders Johann Nevalainen from Finland who specialised in such cases as well as picture frames, boxes and other small objects.
Jewellery fans who pricked up their ears at the name of Fabergé are sure to be inspired by Cartier as well. One of the trademark motifs of the French jeweller is the panther, which is used here in the form of earrings.
Less famous but no less glamorous is Boivin's jewellery. After the death of founder René Boivin, his wife Jeanne took over and hired the designer Suzanne Belperron, and the company’s popularity soared in the Art Deco era.
Orders serve as decoration, but above all as a mark of honour or identification for their eponymous communities. A beautiful gold piece representing the Portuguese Order of Christ will appear, dating from the late 18th century.
With a medal clasp for the honorary title 'Hero of the GDR' and a Karl Marx medal, this one lot combines the two highest awards of the former German Democratic Republic.
Another award that will be presented is a premium medal that was given to a deserving person in Florence in 1769. Florence was then the capital of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, where Archduke Leopold of Austria ruled.
Of particular historical interest is a grey peaked cap that once protected Italy's temporary head of state Benito Mussolini from wind and weather. The hat features red piping and a red knitted chin cord, with the Roman Eagle of the militia on a red background and the insignia featuring four bundled lictors that was reserved exclusively for Mussolini as the head of the Italian Government.
One notable art piece is a hand-carved wooden sculpture by Josef Thorak. The sculpture presumably served as a draft for the two and a half-metre-high Paracelsus statue that exists in the spa gardens of Salzburg.
The auction will take place on 12 December at the Andreas Thies auction house in Nürtingen. Bidding is available in-person, by telephone or online.
