Lot 26
26
A FINE ETCHED AND GILT MORION OF THE TRABANTENLEIBGARDE OF THE PRINCE ELECTORS OF SAXONY
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A FINE ETCHED AND GILT MORION OF THE TRABANTENLEIBGARDE OF THE PRINCE ELECTORS OF SAXONY

CIRCA 1580-91

Details
A FINE ETCHED AND GILT MORION OF THE TRABANTENLEIBGARDE OF THE PRINCE ELECTORS OF SAXONY
circa 1580-91
Of one-piece construction with roped comb and brim, the base of the skull encircled by sixteen gilt-brass lion masks cast in low relief and capping the lining rivets, each with a ring in its mouth, the cheek- pieces mounted en suite, and fitted with gilt-brass plume-holder cast in high relief as a female herm, the surface decorated with gilt etching on a blackened ground, comprising narrow bands of arabesques encircling, on each side of the skull, figures from classical Roman history, respectively of Mucius Scaevola and of Marcus Curtius in Self-sacrifice and on each side of the comb, respectively the arms of Saxony and the crossed swords of the Arch-Marshalcy of the Holy Roman Empire, the brim struck with Nuremberg mark and maker's mark HF conjoined (the leather lining-band and the cheek-piece leathers possibly replaced).
11¼in (28.6cm)
Provenance
The Saxon Electoral Armouries, Dresden.
The Trabantenleibgarde of August I (R. 1553-86) and Christian I (R. 1586-91) comprised two companies of men, one mounted and one on foot, each with a strength of about a hundred.
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

For a comparable example together with a discussion of the type see Ian Eaves, Catalogue of European Armour at the Fitzwilliam Museum (Cambridge), Woodbridge, 2002, HEN.M. 26-1933, pp.149-50

Examples retaining their armoured cheek-pieces are particularly rare.

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