DESCRIPTION: This is a monumental bronze statue by the famed sculptor Aristide Croisy born in Fagnon Ardennes. He was a pupil of the great sculptor Toussaint. He received prestigious medals of the Salon 1873, 1882, and 1885. He was honored with the Legion d’ Honor in 1885. He was a prolific artist turning out many hundred of bronze statues in his career. Some for official government sources. He was most famous for military subjects. His l’Invasion group was world famous. This was a two part set depicting a French soldier and the other part was a French sailor both at the ready with rifles. This one we offer is one of his most famous sculptures. It depicts a French 1870-period soldier foraging with rifle in hand. It is most accurate and the fine detail is wonderful.  We said it is large!! Measures 20” high including the base. The rifle he holds is 16" long and the base is 8" x 12" in size. The soldier is 15 ½" high.  It is signed by the artist and is very heavy! This is a true museum piece extraordinaire!

PRICE: SOLD

DESCRIPTION: This bronze sculpture is magnificent in its patriotic depiction of a “Poliu” officer. The detail is wonderful and prodigiously accurate. The statue stands about a foot high and is signed G. Saulo. This was George Ernest Saulo, one of the greatest sculptors of military art in the 19th century. He also sculpted many feminine figures depicted in the nude. This statue we offer here is nothing short of great. It depicts a hope of Glory that was won in WWI and dashed to the ground in WWII by Hitler’s Wehrmacht 1940. The soldiers of WWI France were, with a few exceptions, not Napoleon's Old Guard. The Grande Armee was past tense, but don’t tell this guy that we offer here anything like that. His love for l’Belle France is obvious. At the end of the day this is truly a really fine art piece. Absolutely museum quality! It should be featured all by itself in a lighted glass showcase prominently displayed, it is actually that good.

PRICE: $1,950.00

A Beautiful French Hunting Cutlass Captured in Battle
by Captain Sir Christopher Cole Royal Navy (Item FRAN 4-5 & BRITSCOT 4-6)

DESCRIPTION: This is a wonderful museum piece (personified!). It is a French hunting sword that is  ivory and silver mounted, possibly dating back to the 17th century but could be as late as 1750. This weapon was captured by Captain Sir Christopher Cole of the British Royal Navy. Captain Cole was the skipper of the famed HMS Caroline and the Rippon, a 36 gun frigate in service against the French and earlier against the Dutch. The internet is replete with the adventures of Captain Sir Christopher Cole so we will not explore his illustrious career here at this time. He served as a Member of Parliament after his life of high adventures on the sea had ended. He had also served in the rank of Colonel in the Royal Marines.  He was invested as a Knight Commander (Order of the Bath) (KCB) in 1814. The sword or hunting weapon that we offer was captured from a French Captain during Captain Cole's many daring sea engagements. The style of hunting sword is longer than the usual and quite fancy indeed. Why would a French Captain be armed with a hunting sword instead of a naval sword? This is a speculative question but it can be supposed that it was a family heirloom and probably from a family of aristocracy as this weapon was obviously made by a swordsmith of the ‘master craft.’ The beauty of it is obvious. And please pay attention to the standing Turk on the blade that  is commenserate with the memory of Prince Eugene of Savoy who defeated  the Turks at the Battle of Vienna.  Prince Eugene was born in Paris and was a hereditary Prince of the Royal House of Savoy. The French had a love/hate relationship with the Turks and Muslims, using them as allies from time to time but also fighting them in other eras. But many of the weapons of Austrians, Hungarians and the French often depict a fierce Turk in the blades of especially these styles of hunting weapons.  The shape and style of the sword is very Islamic looking and this was favored by the French noble classes. We earnestly believe the French Captain who surrendered to Captain  Cole was of French gentry at least, and Capt Cole treasured the sword enough that he had his name and R.N. (Royal Navy) engraved under the cross guard.  (Shown in our pictures). We also believe this to be more than likely a mid-17th century sword (maybe 1650 or so.)  It is of sword length -- 31" long in its scabbard. The beautiful silver decorative plaques that lie upon the gorgeous ivory grips stand out boldly. The silver fittings on the scabbard are at some places repaired with silver overlay -- the scars of battle? Probably! The blade is about 21 ½" long and except for some old antiqued rust spots, it is quite excellent for its age and past usage. It would be rated as (museum grade excellent) and for a weapon of this age to have its leather and wood scabbard still there and fine is the incredible Ivory grip, but it has the minute age cracks to be expected on a weapon as old as this one. Back to the blade... it has about 8 engraved pictographs including the Turk. Some of the engraved parts at the base of the blade where it meets the cross guard are quite worn indicating that it was drawn often and used possibly through the many years. This was not the weapon of any peasant or even a lower class noble; it was surely the property of a highly placed Royal personage or at least fabulously wealthy landed gentry. It’s a superlative weapon worthy of display in the finest museum or very advanced collection. We have handled many fine pieces at Germania but this one is worthy of bragging about. A sword of elegant beauty but also it has the distinction of having belonged to a French officer and an illustrious British sea-going Knight of the Bath and M.P. Fantastic!

PRICE: SOLD

DESCRIPTION: This is a true rarity deserving of the cover of a prestigious gun magazine perhaps? A combination sword or dagger & gun. These combination weapons are scarce enough but to find one with an over and under pistol as the accoutrement is “super rare.” It constructed with all brass fittings and the grip looks like a Napoleonic Sword of the cavalry regiments with horn grip or perhaps it is ebony? The brass guard supports a lion or panther head at the top. The brass clamshell hand guard covers part of the flint lock action. It has a very unusual trigger device as well. The piece was made probably by a professional weaponry blacksmith shop. It is signed by the maker in Paris. The action is inventive and very different. In one of our pictures supplied herein you can see the percussion hammer and if you look closely you can see that it has two strikers -- one top and one on the bottom. You can also see two nipple posts where the percussion caps are placed. When the first barrel is fired, the shooter can then in turn swing the hammer seen at the top downward thus enabling the hammer to strike the 2nd nipple post thus firing the 2nd barrel. Now and then these combination sword and gun ensembles are to be encountered in famous collections but never have we seen one like this. This example is prodigiously rare in the extreme! 

It probably dates in the 1860’s or earlier. Weapons such as these were used by hunters but also in warfare and also by police detachments. The piece may have had a scabbard but that is history.  Another usage for something like this would be utilized in sea service either the kings navy or possibly by pirates?  Perhaps that is why the fittings are brass that is less likely to be affected by the damp sea atmosphere. In that case it would not have a scabbard -- rather it would be stowed in the Captain’s cabin as a ready weapon to be used in the case of a possible mutiny. The possibilities are numerous but surely romantic saga has attended this magnificent double purpose sword. Of this we can only speculate but we can be assured that is a worthy museum piece that should be in a great collection.

Details: 30 inches long overall, blade 24 inches, the double barreled pistol is 6 inches long, the grip with the clamshell guard is 7 inches long.

PRICE: $7,500.00