Hermann Historica sets Autumn Auction lineup

MUNICH _ Hermann Historica oHG will offer its usual wide range of high quality, precious objects from numerous eras and from every corner of the globe at its upcoming Autumn Auction. Approximately 6,500 lots from all specialist areas represented by the auction house are to come under the hammer Oct. 24 to Nov. 5 – antiquities, arms and armor, works of art, hunting antiques, orders and collectibles from all fields of history and military history.

Fine antique and modern firearms

The firearms section features three-shot wheellock pistol from 1610. Manufactured in Germany, with inlays of engraved and blackened bone in the walnut full stock. Equally rare, and no less striking, is a combination weapon of a battle axe with a wheellock firearm, crafted in Nuremberg circa 1580. A two-shot, all-metal wheellock pistol from the same period and region is in excellent, untouched original condition.

Also up for auction are a number of exquisite guns and small arms made by Hanover gunsmiths during the 17th - 19th century from Heinz-Walter Hebestreit's collection.

The modern arms section includes the self-loading pistol Roth-Theodorovic Mod. 1901, part of field trials involving over 33 weapons. A much sought-after calibre 7.65 mm Borchardt C 93 from 1896 with matching shoulder stock, is one of a numbered series of only 1,100 that were manufactured by Loewe of Germany.

Antiquities

The array of early bronze helmets promises several veritable rarities, among them a Roman bronze infantry helmet of Weisenau type, which was forged during the end of the first to the early second century A.D. Not only does the helmet boast the characteristic movable cheek pieces, the flared neck guard and the knob to insert the crest, it is in impressive condition and has documented provenance in the renowned Axel Guttmann Collection of Berlin.

No less skillfully fashioned are the exquisite works crafted by gold and silversmiths in ancient times: from a matching pair of late Hellenistic/early Roman silver beakers, embellished with an appliquéd olive twig bearing leaves and fruits, chased from gilt sheet silver, to a Hittite sculpture of a bull, cast in bronze and lavishly adorned with sheet silver, dating from the 16th to the 15th century B.C.

The armor and weapons of the Samurai

Rudolf Ott (1919 - 2010) assembled one of the most world's most comprehensive and superior collections of Japanese weaponry from the early period right through to the 19th century. Hermann Historica will sell over 300 lots of Ott's collection to collectors and museums around the world. Among them are artifacts like an excellent do maru gusoku armor from the mid Edo period (1603 - 1868), its iron helmet formed of 24 plates in the style around 1250, a superb daisho, a long and a short sword, parts of the blades made circa 1530 by members of the prestigious Kanemoto family, and an array of other artifacts.

Arms and armor, arts and crafts

The arms and armor catalogue opens with hunting antiques, works of art and rare wunderkammer objects, including the “Kreütter Buch” written by Hieronymus Bock (1498 - 1554) in 1551. A baroque bottle from Saxony is dated 1683 and profusely decorated with tendrils and ornaments in extremely fine enamel painting. Aa Flemish large-size gobelin tapestry from the second half of the 17th century is offered in beautiful condition; as is a silver-mounted, ivory tankard from Germany, carved with hunting scenes in baroque style.

The antique arms and armor section holds a whole range of exceptional collectors' items in store.

Gold shashka with Order of St. George with Diamonds, Russia, 1914.

All Pictures: Copyright Hermann Historica oHG 2016