The uniform ensemble from circa 1845-1850 consisting of twelve individual pieces:
#1. Fur busby of finest brown-white fur with the bag of fine red cloth. At the front as emblem for the Guard Hussar Regiment the gilt bandeau with the three battle honors “Peninsula Waterloo El Bodon”, the surface grained, the letters polished, above this separately applied the gilt royal crown of finest craftsmanship quality. The chin strap of black lacquered leather with black velvet backing and gilt chain reinforcement, attached at the sides to gilt semi-relief lion heads. The extra high parade plume of white particularly soft and approximately 39 cm long heron feathers, at the base with short yellow feathers, the “feather basket” particularly elaborate with small gilt plates and gilt thread embroidery, the parade plume inserted into the fur busby in a gilt socket and fixed with a screw. Complete with the line of silver thread with yellow interweaving. Inside with very fine, almost parchment-like leather sweatband with gilt printing and finest lining of light blue silk cloth. Size approximately 57. Very well preserved. Only the bag with two small moth traces. Accompanying label “Royal Guelph Museum. Uniform piece, belonging to the Hanoverian Hussar uniform of King Ernst August.”
#2. The dolman/pelisse of fine soft dark blue cloth with rich gilt braiding and five rows of 18 gilt buttons each, the middle row of spherical buttons, the other four rows with hemispherical buttons, on the sleeves the special officer's braid for the Guard Hussar Regiment, the high standing collar, the sleeves, the button panels and the hem for officers of the Guard Regiment with gray fur trim, on the shoulders the “caterpillars” of silver wire with yellow cords and two gilt rank stars each for the general. On the left sleeve with the black silk mourning band. The pelisse well lined, inside with red silk cloth. Very well preserved, the lining inside with an approximately five cm long thin tear.
#3. The parade attila of fine soft dark blue cloth with rich gilt braiding and five rows of 18 gilt buttons each, the middle row of spherical buttons, the other four rows with hemispherical buttons, on the sleeves the special officer's braid for the Guard Hussar Regiment, the high standing collar, the chest (under the braiding) and at the hem with broad gilt braid, on the shoulders the “caterpillars” of silver wire with yellow cords and two gilt rank stars each for the general. On the left sleeve with the black silk mourning band. The attila is more lightly lined, inside with red silk cloth, the hem inside reinforced with red leather. Attached on a cord the remnant of a typical label from the royal Hanoverian collection.
#4. Parade bandolier and cartridge box. The parade bandolier of red leather, wrapped with red velvet cloth, applied the silver braid with gilt interweaving, gilt escutcheon with the two priming wires on gilt chains attached to the gilt lion head suspension, gilt buckles. The cartridge box covered with red morocco leather, the sides and lid mounted with gilt brass, on the lid applied in silver the crowned star with the motto “Nec aspera terrent” as well as the bandeau “Peninsula Waterloo El Bodon”. Attached the inventory tag “1501” of the royal Hanoverian collection Marienburg Castle.
#5. Sash of silver braid with auxiliary strap. Attached on a cord the remnant of a typical label from the royal Hanoverian collection.
#6. Sabretache of red leather, the lid with rich decoration in gilt and silver thread embroidery on red cloth, above the crown, below the cipher “EAR” over a trophy of arms. Complete with the three carrying straps and the attached under-buckle belt, also of red leather, decorated with gilt braid and with gilt fittings. Attached the label “Royal Family Museum. No. 1 Hanoverian Guard Hussar Uniform [...]”.
#7. Eagle-head saber with slightly curved double-fullered blade on both sides approximately 84.5 cm long and 2.8 cm wide, the lower third on both sides with gilt engravings. Gilt stirrup guard with finely chased eagle head, leather-wrapped grip with intact silver wire binding. Attached the inventory tag “149” of the royal Hanoverian collection Marienburg Castle. Polished steel scabbard with two brass ring bands. Very well preserved!
#8. Boot trousers of fine dark blue cloth with thin red piping, the waistband outside trimmed with black silk, inside with white silk. The black horn buttons all preserved. The instep straps on buttons for removal.
#9. A second pair of boot trousers of fine dark blue cloth with thin red piping, inside with gray-blue silk lining. The buttons complete. Attached label of the royal Hanoverian collection. The instep straps on buttons for removal.
#10. The spurs of gilt brass with intact strapping of blackened leather. Inside punched with a downward-opening “horseshoe” and therein the letter “S”.
#11. Shabraque of dark blue cloth with red zigzag border trimmed in gilt-embroidered galloon, the edge piped in gilt embroidery. On the sides brown leather applications for protection against abrasion from the rider's legs. The underside protected by black cloth. On the leather application at left with old inventory label "Hannover Guard Hussar Shabraque 1893 from Penzing".
#12. The officer's bridle after English model with rosette and “tassel” decoration of brown leather, complete with the head, breast and crupper harness.
An exhibition piece of great historical and museum significance of which we are very proud to present to you!
The pieces all originate from the royal collection at Marienburg Castle and were sold at the 2005 Sotheby's auction.
At this auction the pieces were acquired by a renowned “Hannover collector” and came from him into our possession.
The pieces in turn originate from the personal property of King Ernst August I (King from 1837-51).
This is precisely the uniform that the King wears on the Ernst August Monument in Hannover, which was created in 1861 by Albert Wolff.
Dating to the year 1849 is a portrait by the court painter Karl Wilhelm Friedrich Oesterley, which shows the King again in precisely this uniform. This portrait achieved wide distribution including as a postcard motif and may also have served as the model for the equestrian statue.
The individual pieces were not sold together at the 2005 Sotheby's auction, also because in the house collection the pieces were kept separately from one another. The collector deserves credit for recognizing the pieces in their historical value and correctly attributing and uniting them.
The association is unquestionable and can be determined apart from the museum label also solely from the high quality of the pieces, the rank on pelisse and dolman and the dating concordance.
Furthermore, sabers with eagle heads were reserved only for the King. The bridle can also be found in its details on the equestrian statue. The shabraque is also clearly recognizable here. The original took a “detour” via the exile collection in Penzing, Austria back to Marienburg.
