Auction Preview: Morphy Auctions’ July Militaria Sale

LAS VEGAS _ Morphy Auctions will hosts its next sale July 8 through July 10 at the company’s Las Vegas auction gallery. This sale features the estate collection of a southern California collector who had a lifelong passion for all things militaria. All items in this sale will be available for preview beginning June 8.

This sale will offer more than 1,200 weapons from the 16th – 20th centuries, including swords, rapiers, sabers, pole arms and variations from England, Europe, the USA, Asia, and the Ottoman Empire. Highlights include lot #786, an English made, deluxe Indo-Persian officer’s sword; lot #791, a French First Empire Sapeurs infantry sword; and lot #793, a magnificent English Napoleonic era (Prince of Wales) officer’s sword. Collectors will also undoubtedly set their sights on lot #444, an interesting and ornate 16th century German wheel lock long gun fitted with an Indo-Persian barrel.

This sale’s range of military uniforms includes a full spectrum of coats, vests, pants, shirts, footwear and other garments.

There will also be more than 200 lots of military headgear on offer. Two original French Cuirassier or Chasseur helmets are among the top picks in this category. Lot #172, a helmet with three fleur-de-lis, and lot #173, a helmet with a horsehair plume. Lot #698 is a French 48th of the Line shako cap featuring a white cockade, yellow pom-pom, and star chin scale retainers.

Fine and decorative artwork also ranks highly in this sales event. Collectors will have the opportunity to decorate their personal barracks with over 100 lots of fine paintings, prints, sculptures, trophies, and other attractive military themed collectibles. Lot #2073, a battle scene bronze by Theodore Gechter (1795-1844, French) features a fallen man-at-arms, a crouching boar attacked by dogs, and a Renaissance-era lord on a horse, blowing his horn and wielding a sword. Lot #2076, an unsigned and unnamed larger than life mixed marble bust, comes to life with a white marble head and green marble circlet and robe. And two bronze Napoleon bust highlights command the auction spotlight. The first is lot #2074, a stunning, large bust of the leader by Renzo Columbo (1856-1885, Italian.) It features Napoleon in a bicorn hat and the Empire Eagle figure at his chest. The piece, inscribed "D Co. 1st Regt. Infty. N.G.P. To The Albany Zouave Cadets, July 21-24 1886,” is superb. And the second is lot #2075, a shoulderless bust of Napoleon I signed by Jean-Antoine Houdon (French, 1741-1828). Houdon was the preeminent sculptor of the French Enlightenment. This piece depicts Napoleon with tousled hair and a headband and is inscribed, “La Majeste/L’Empereur/et Roy/ Fait l’Apres Nature/St. Cloud/1806/Houdon Fit. Circa 1806.”

Armor, flags, hand weapons, sashes, badges, epaulettes, medals, and other collectible militaria will also be up for bids.
For more information, visit www.MorphyAuctions.com.