Lot 8078

Description

Silver-gilt, polychrome enamel, rubies, almandines, turquoises, emeralds and river pearls. Set on a column of baroque scroll arches decorated with figures of boys playing and blossoms, a standing elephant, its saddlecloth embellished with gemstones, and three boys riding on its back. The pedestal shaped like a rock, the base engraved in oriental style and enamelled in blue and white. The seal surface of lapis lazuli, carved with the large coat of arms of Minister President and Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring with continuous inscription band and Pour le Mérite. Minor imperfections. Unmarked, height 16 cm, weight 557 g. Probably produced in Vienna during the second half of the 19th century.

Provenance: Major Emmett U. McRae of the 101st Airborne Division was tasked in 1945 with guarding the collecting point for works of art from the estate of Adolf Hitler, Hermann Göring and other leading figures of the Third Empire. Accompanied by extensive documentation (all photocopied) comprising a notarised affidavit by Emmett U. McRae dated 1984, newspaper cuttings from 1945 and documents relating to the Kent Sales auction of 27 November 1984 (£23,000). The affidavit and the auction listing cite, in addition to this seal, further pieces that McRae brought to the USA in 1946, among them two silver hunting cups from Karinhall and Rominten, an additional six silver beakers bearing the Göring family coat of arms, and a silver birdcage with musical mechanism that Hitler gave to the Göring family on 4 November 1938. Hermann Historica, 47th auction Auction 2004, lot no. 2016. In 2004 and 2005, Hermann Historica additionally auctioned seven of the hunting cups and silver beakers listed in the affidavit.

Condition: I - II Questions about the lot?