Der Nachlass Leonrod

1036 64 | Wilhelm Freiherr von Leonrod - A Grand Cross set of the Bavarian Merit Order of St. Michael in the presentation case The following 103 lots are from the estate of Wilhelm Freiherr von Le- onrod (1865 - 1943), who initially served as aide-de-camp to Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, later as chamberlain of the Prince Regent from 1912 and as lord chamberlain to King Ludwig III of Bavaria as of 1915. Based on the numerous preserved documents – all paginated by hand in chronological order by his wife Clara after his death in 1943 – the other- wise relatively meagre details of his biography can now be impressively fleshed out in the following for the first time. The Grand Cross crafted with supreme gold workmanship in the work- shop of Eduard Quellhorst, circa 1880. In multi-coloured gold, chased and polished, in a sublime royal blue, in slightly translucent enamel. The delicately embossed, lavishly re-cut, movable royal crown on an engraved, decorative riband buckle, the fully sculptured, embossed and reworked figure of the saint with an enamelled breast cross and the or- der motto “QUIS UT DEUS” (Who is like God?), slaying the dragon. The central figure is mounted on a circlet of rays and thunderbolts, which is openworked between the cross arms and inset into the enamel coating. The gold reverse medallion slightly oxidised, bearing the enam- elled inscription “VIRTUTI” (For bravery), the cross arms inscribed on both sides with the letters “P F P F”, Prinzipi Fidelis Favere Patriae (Faithful to the Prince, serving the Fatherland). The manufacturer’s mark ‘EQ’ and ‘18’ hallmark for 750 gold fineness in the suspension ring. Width 64.2 mm. Weight 61.6 g. The eight-rayed, faceted breast star of the Grand Cross wrought in sil- ver, in the early Austrian issue (unstamped, prior to 1867). The cross arm appliqués fastened with a screw on the reverse, on a pin. Partially gilt (inscription, cross arm sections), lightly oxidised. Width 87.5 mm. Weight 71.4 g. The original-length, customised and worn order sash of the Grand Crosses in the issue from 1887 (pink with blue borders) in watered silk moiré. Width 101.5 mm. Together in the dark leather presentation case of the order jeweller “GEBRÜDERHEMMERLEMÜNCHENMAXIMILIANSTR. 41”, with (tr.) “Grand Cross of the Royal Bavarian Merit Order of St. Michael” embossed in gold, with a pull-out red velvet insert and the pasted wearing instructions (tr.) “… The order cross is worn from the left shoulder …”. This is the Grand Cross set that was awarded and presented to Wilhelm Freiherr von Leonrod in 1918. Supplied by the traditional manufacturer Gebrüder Hemmerle, this set had previously been awarded and sub­ sequently returned for further issue following the death of the first (or second) bearer. As embroidered breast stars were standard issue for the Civil Order of Merit of the Bavarian Crown and the Order of St. Michael until 1884, there have been occasions when privately procured metal stars (like this one, returned from an Austrian bearer) found their way into the order sets and were re-awarded in due course. 247761 I - II € 8.500