Lot 730
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832) - a personal bronze seal, gift of Grand Duke Carl Friedrich of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach to Prince Adalbert of Bavaria
Orders and Military Collectibles until 1918 | A104m | Live auction | 875 Lots
Hammer price € 23,000
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Heavy bronze crafted in one piece in the shape of a pine cone on a base, the seal surface with the chiselled coat of arms of Goethe from 1782 onwards and old residues of sealing wax. Height 65 mm, weight 228 g. Card of provenance (tr.) "Seal with coat of arms from the personal property of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Gift by His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar to His Royal Highness Prince Adalbert of Bavaria" attached with a white-blue cord, on the reverse inventory label (tr.) "Property of His Royal Highness Prince Alfons", the cord affixed both to the red wax seal and to the paper label of Prince Alfons. Grand Duke Carl Friedrich (1783 - 1853) became regent in 1828 when his father, Grand Duke Carl August, died. The latter had maintained a lifelong friendship with the slightly older Goethe after having called him to his court as minister in 1775. Prince Adalbert of Bavaria (1828 - 1875), Bavarian general and heir to the throne of Greece, was a great collector of seals. His son Prince Alfons did not only inherit his father’s collection, but also continued this passion and enlarged the collection. Significant object from the property of the prince of poets.Condition: II Questions about the lot?
