Circa 1850/60. The tailcoat of dark blue-black cloth with the distinctive gilt Prussian naval buttons, on the sleeves the two gold stripes with three buttons each for a Corvette Captain, on the shoulders the silver shoulder straps with black interwoven threads for the epaulettes. On the left breast with four loops for orders and decorations. Interior with black silk lining, slightly worn in the neck area. Together with the trousers of the same dark blue-black cloth, with broad gold stripe on the sides. Furthermore, the epaulettes with gold crescents, fields and bullion and unclear anchors embroidered in metal thread and two rank stars each for a Lieutenant at Sea 1st Class (Captain-Lieutenant), the silver stripes with black interwoven threads, the backing of dark blue-black cloth. Also included is the naval dagger à la Mameluke with wedge-shaped blade without fuller, cleaned, without maker's mark or other decoration, gilt brass hilt, with chain and checkered grip of genuine ivory (CITES certificate enclosed), leather scabbard with three brass mounts, the throat piece engraved with anchor and the name “von Pirch”, complete with belt and carrying strap, the latter defective, used but otherwise well preserved. Condition 2.

The tailcoat, trousers and epaulettes were part of a significant naval collection and according to the collector originated from the estate of “Alfred von Pirch”. The dagger can be attributed to the estate based on the engraving “v. Pirch”.

“Alfred von Pirch” is listed in the “Rang- und Quartier-Liste der Königl. Preußischen Armee für das Jahr 1849” as “Lieutenant 1ster Kl.” From October 22, 1854 to January 12, 1855 he commanded the aviso “Salamander”. The epaulettes and dagger date from this period. The tailcoat dates from a later point in his career between 1855 and 1860.

Enclosed is the CITES certificate for sale, import and export under the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, dated March 7, 2023 for the dagger.

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salamander_(Schiff,_1851)

502852

€ 10.500,00

Royal Prussian Navy Service Tailcoat, Trousers, Epaulettes and Dagger from the Estate of “Alfred von Pirch”

The Royal Prussian Navy of the 19th century was a relatively young institution that only emerged in the 1840s and found itself in a phase of intensive development and professionalization. This uniform of a corvette captain from around 1850/60 represents a significant epoch in Prussian naval history, when the Kingdom of Prussia attempted to build and expand its maritime presence.

The service tailcoat in characteristic dark blue-black with gilded Prussian naval buttons followed the strict uniform regulations of the time. The two golden braids on the sleeves, each with three buttons, denoted the rank of corvette captain, while the silver shoulder straps with black piping enabled the attachment of epaulettes. The four loops on the left breast were designed for wearing orders and decorations, underlining the ceremonial character of this uniform. The black silk lining testifies to the high quality of workmanship typical of officers' uniforms of this period.

The epaulettes themselves are of particular historical interest, as they indicate a lower rank than the tailcoat: they bear the marks of a First Class Lieutenant at Sea (Capitain-Lieutenant), with characteristic golden crescents, fields, and bullion, as well as two rank stars. This discrepancy is historically explicable, as officers were promoted during their careers and older uniform parts often dated from earlier periods of service.

The naval dirk à la Mameluke is a remarkable example of the weapon tradition of the Prussian Navy. This dirk form, which was oriented toward Ottoman models, was popular in German naval circles during the first half of the 19th century. The wedge-shaped blade without fuller and the gilded brass hilt with checkered ivory grip correspond to the standards of the time. The engraving with anchor and name on the throat of the leather scabbard was a customary personalization for officers' weapons.

The historical attribution to Alfred von Pirch is of particular significance. In the “Rank and Quarter List of the Royal Prussian Army for the Year 1849,” he is listed as Lieutenant 1st Class. His command period on the aviso “Salamander” from October 22, 1854, to January 12, 1855, falls into an interesting phase of Prussian naval history.

The aviso “Salamander” was a steam vessel of the Prussian Navy commissioned in 1851, designed as a dispatch vessel for rapid communication and reconnaissance tasks. With a displacement of about 400 tons and a steam engine of 120 horsepower, the ship represented the technological change in naval technology of the mid-19th century, when sailing ships were being replaced by steamships.

The Prussian Navy of this epoch found itself in a transitional phase. After the failed Revolution of 1848/49 and the dissolution of the all-German Reich fleet, Prussia had to restructure its own naval organization. The 1850s were characterized by reform efforts, the acquisition of new ships, and the professionalization of the officer corps.

The uniform regulations of the Prussian Navy were strictly regulated and were partly based on British and French models. The dark blue base color was an international standard for naval uniforms, while the specific braid insignia and button forms represented national peculiarities. The use of gold and silver in rank insignia followed a hierarchical system that made an officer's position in the chain of command immediately recognizable.

The trousers with broad golden side braid completed the full dress uniform and were worn on ceremonial occasions. This dress uniform differed significantly from the practical service uniforms worn aboard ship, which were designed much more simply.

The historical value of this uniform collection lies not only in its material quality but also in its ability to document the military culture and social hierarchy of the Prussian Navy of the 19th century. Officers' uniforms were expensive acquisitions that had to be paid for by the wearer himself and therefore also represented a status symbol. The elaborate workmanship with gold braids, silk lining, and gilded buttons testifies to the social rank of the wearer.

The period around 1850/60 was a time of construction and orientation for the Prussian Navy. The uniforms and equipment items from this period are rarely preserved today and offer valuable insights into Prussia's maritime history before the founding of the Reich in 1871, after which the Prussian Navy was absorbed into the Imperial Navy.

These artifacts represent more than mere military paraphernalia; they embody the aspirations of a continental power seeking to establish itself as a naval force. The careful preservation of such items, including documentation such as CITES certification for the ivory components, ensures that future generations can study and appreciate this important chapter in German naval history.