 |
|---|
1871 German Cavalry Brigade's French Infantry Regimental Eagle Trophy |
|||
|
1871 German Cavalry Brigade's French Infantry Regimental Eagle Trophy |
||
| This is the eagle part of a II Empire French Infantry Eagle Standard as a German trophy, there indicators that it was the Eagle standard of one of the French 3rd Regiments. It appears to be a trophy of the German 8th Cavalry Brigade (5th Cuirassiers and 10th Uhlans) of the 4th Cavalry Division. It originated from an English Antique Dealer. The eagle is an earlier type. The single nail hole suggests that after it's capture that it had been mounted on a pole or a thin post, Although the art and inscriptions show that it had once been a German trophy, the remnants of the paper strip and the style of writing (in English) on the front shows that it had also been in an old English collection, possibly having been acquired by or from a British soldier during or just after WWI. It reads "gle Standard . Nap III . anco - Prussian (Eagle Standard . Nap III . Franco - Prussian War). The III appears in the picture provided as the number 57, it is not, but rather it is distorted due to wear. The standard has some light miniature art engraving (on the metal and in wax) on the eagle's head and on the crown. The cross on the crown had been clipped, perhaps as a trophy presentation to a German commander. The wood trophy base has work throughout that is done in light and heavily engraved wax. |
|||
|
Miniature Art in the Hole of the Trophy Base's Bottom
|
||
| The hole in the bottom has miniature art that shows the defeat and surrender of the French, it also shows two seperate German victors. |
|||
|
Miniature Art on the Trophy's Inside
|
||
| Although a bit faded, from what can be seen it is likely that the Eagle's inside has miniature art throughout. The miniature art work that is seen is somewhat surreal, it may show the struggle of the Paris Commune of 1871. The hole on the top side of the bottom appears as a hole with figures coming out of it, an overhead roundish metal piece (with figures painted on it) could be seen as a sewer cover. |
|||