Lot 6868
A large German cast-iron wall emblem of Infantry Regiment „Freiherr von Sparr", (3rd Westphalian) No. 16, circa 1890
Orders and Military Collectibles until 1918 | A108m | Live auction | 1240 Lots
Description
Cast iron, partially tinted and gold bronzed. At the centre, a portrait in high relief of the first Brandenburg-Prussian Generalfeldmarschall Otto Christoph von Sparr (1599 - 1668) in a laurel wreath, surmounted by a banner inscribed „Hacketau" and framed by trophies such as flags, halberds, drums, timpani and the Prussian eagle. "Infanterie-Regiment" - „Freiherr von Sparr No. 16" inscribed at the side. Below the portrait, a cartouche held by two separately screw-mounted eagles, inscribed with the regiment's commanders „Ludwig Landgraf von Hessen-Homburg 1823 - 1839. Johann Erzherzog von Oesterreich 1842 - 1859, Alexander Prinz von Preussen, 18. October 1861". The artist's signature „A. Gerber" on the right-hand eagle. Double flange with imitation decorative rivets, between which are the regiment's most famous battles "1813-14 * Gross-Beeren * Dennewitz * Leipzig * Laon * 1866 * Koeniggraetz * 1870-71 * Mars la Tour * Beaune la Rolande". A sturdy iron ring for wall mounting on the back. Diameter 77 cm The battle cry „Hacke tau" (strike them down!) originated in the Battle of Großbeeren in 1813, when heavy rain meant that the soldiers could not shoot, but were forced instead to use their rifle butts in close combat. Unparalleled regimental emblem, which dates back to between the time when the regiment was renamed after Feldmarschall Otto Christoph von Sparr by order of Kaiser Wilhelm II on 27 January 1889 and Alexander of Prussia stepping down as commander of the regiment on 4 January 1895.Condition: II + Questions about the lot?
