Circa 1830/40. Highly elegant and exquisitely crafted saddle cloth and pistol holsters of leather, the display sides adorned with red cloth, the upper edge trimmed in morocco leather, the cloth decorated with rich gold embroidery, sequins and bullion thread, the shabraque at the corners with large embroidered crowns, on the pistol holsters these at the center. On the underside the pieces lined with brown linen cloth. Condition 2.

The shabraque and pistol holsters originate from the “Welfen Auction” by Sotheby's in 2005, in which the personal possessions of the House of Hannover were auctioned.

The shabraque and matching pistol holsters represent a unique piece; no other example of this type is known. For the King, particularly high-quality workmanship and the most valuable materials were employed.

From 1760 to 1820, George III was in personal union Elector (later King) of Hannover and King of England. His son Ernst August I (*1771, † 1851) entered the Hanoverian Army in 1791 and rose rapidly through its ranks. During the First Coalition War (1793-97) he served in Flanders as Commander of the 1st Cavalry Brigade in the combined army consisting of British, Hanoverian and Austrian troops. As early as 1798 he was promoted to Lieutenant General and in 1803 to General. During the occupation of Hannover from 1803 to 1813 he served in the British Army. In 1813 he was present at the Battle of Leipzig and was appointed Field Marshal on November 26, 1813. It can be assumed that he later received the magnificent shabraque as a symbol of his outstanding status as Field Marshal.

454990

€ 12.000,00

Kingdom of Hannover Ceremonial Shabraque and Pistol Holsters from the Estate of Field Marshal Ernst August I of Hannover

The magnificent gala shabrack (saddle cloth) and accompanying pistol holsters from the Kingdom of Hannover represent one of the highest forms of military ceremonial equipment in the early 19th century. These exquisite pieces, crafted around 1830/40, stand as exemplary evidence of the connection between military rank, royal dignity, and masterful craftsmanship in the age of European monarchies.

The Kingdom of Hannover emerged in 1814 following the Congress of Vienna from the former Electorate. From 1714 to 1837, a personal union existed with the Kingdom of Great Britain, which gave the Hanoverian monarchy a special position in Europe. This dynastic connection shaped not only politics but also the military culture and representation of the kingdom profoundly.

Ernest Augustus I (1771-1851), the fifth son of King George III, embodied this Anglo-Hanoverian military tradition in a particular way. His military career began in 1791 in the Hanoverian army and led him through the turbulent decades of the Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic era. During the First Coalition War (1793-1797), he commanded the 1st Cavalry Brigade in Flanders, where Hanoverian troops fought alongside British and Austrian forces. These early experiences shaped his military career and led to his rapid promotion: to Lieutenant General in 1798 and to full General as early as 1803.

The French occupation of Hannover from 1803 to 1813 marked a turning point. During this time, Ernest Augustus served in the British Army, maintaining the connection to the House of Hannover. His participation in the Battle of Leipzig in 1813, the largest battle of the Napoleonic Wars, crowned his military career. On November 26, 1813, he was appointed Field Marshal, the highest military rank.

The gala equipment described here is direct testimony to this outstanding position. Shabracks – decorative saddle cloths for horses – had been an essential component of military ceremonial equipment since the 17th century. They served not only the practical purpose of protecting the horse's back but primarily the visual representation of the wearer's rank and status. The accompanying pistol holsters belonged to the standard equipment of mounted officers and were designed magnificently for ceremonial occasions.

The craftsmanship of these pieces deserves special attention. The combination of leather as the base material, red cloth for the visible side, and morocco leather for the borders corresponded to the highest quality standards. Red cloth was traditionally associated with military rank, while morocco leather – a fine leather tanned from goat or sheep skins – was considered a luxury material. The abundant gold embroidery, complemented by sequins and bullion (spirally twisted metal wire), required the work of highly specialized craftsmen. The embroidered crowns directly symbolized royal dignity and made the affiliation with the House of Hannover immediately recognizable.

In the context of military ceremony in the 19th century, such magnificent pieces played a central role. At parades, receptions, coronation ceremonies, and other state occasions, the visual display of hierarchy and power was of paramount importance. A Field Marshal in full regalia on an appropriately equipped horse embodied the power and tradition of the monarchy. This form of representation followed a Europe-wide code of visual communication that was immediately readable to contemporaries.

The provenance of these objects – their origin from the Sotheby's auction of the House of Hannover in 2005 – underscores their authenticity and historical significance. As a unique piece with no known comparable item, they possess special scholarly and cultural-historical value. They document not only the material culture of the Hanoverian court but also the close connection between military function and courtly representation in monarchical Europe.

In 1837, the personal union between Great Britain and Hannover ended when Ernest Augustus succeeded his brother William IV on the Hanoverian throne. As King of Hannover (1837-1851), he ruled an independent kingdom whose military traditions were deeply rooted in the shared history with Great Britain. The objects discussed here are material witnesses to this complex dynastic and military history.

Today, such objects provide a unique insight into the military and court culture of the 19th century. They combine artistic excellence with historical significance and illustrate how material culture was employed in the construction and communication of power and status. These pieces remind us that military history encompasses not only battles and campaigns but also the ceremonial and representational aspects that were equally important in maintaining the social and political order of their time.