CIRCA 1915

Details

A very rare St. George Infantry sword with diamonds pattern 1913
circa 1915
Curved, the gilt brass stirrup hilt engraved on both sides with the Russian inscription 'For Bravery', the pierced quillon with the sword knot of the Order of St. George, the gilt brass grip set at the bottom with rose-cut diamonds in a lozenge frame, the cap-piece with an enamelled miniature of the Order of St. George within rim set with rose-cut diamonds
37¾ in. (96.5 cm) long

Provenance

Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich the Younger.
Thence by direct descent.

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

During the First World War, only eight St. George swords with diamomds were awarded. Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich the Younger was awarded his on 4 April 1915 as Supreme Commander of the Russian Armed Forces.
The others were awarded to General P. A. Lechitski (27 September 1914), Lieutenant-General V. A. Irmanov (4 November 1914), Lieutenant-General S. B. S. B. Mekhmandarov (14 February 1915), General-Lieutenant S. F. Dobrotin (20 february 1915), Major-General A. I. Denikin (10 November 1915), General P. P. Kalitin (19 May 1916) and General A. A. Brussilov (20 July 1916).

As mentioned and specified in the Statute of the Order of St. George (paragraph 127, see opposite page), the present sword is one of the St. George swords with diamonds that the Grand Duke wore in the field in his various military capacities; the one presented by the Emperor and valued by the Imperial Cabinet at 10415 rubles was exclusively worn for important official events.

Nonetheless, a sword of St. George with diamonds such as the present one, with such important and impeccable Imperial provenance, has never before appeared at auction and can be easily considered unique.

More from Russian Art

View All