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    Hauptmann

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    Posts posted by Hauptmann

      Vase on Ebay

      in Napoleonic Wars

      Posted

      All pics from the auction. If anyone object I'll be happy to remove them. But seems all too often items from auctions are listed with just the auction link and once it's over and removed from their system it's lost for reference. So figured this was the best way to preserve it.

      Dan :cheers:

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      Vase on Ebay

      in Napoleonic Wars

      Posted · Edited by Hauptman

      Hi all,

      To save it here for posterity:

      Description from Auction:

      This vase was owned by Catherine the Great, smashed by Napoleon, restored, brought to America -- and that's just the beginning of the story.

      History and Provenance:

      The story in the April 8, 1927 New York Times (and elsewhere) runs like this--

      This legendary vase's original owner was Catherine the Great, who later gave it to Louis de Cobenzel, a renowned Austrian diplomat. While Cobenzel was conducting peace-treaty negotiations at Camp Formo with Napoleon (then a general), Cobenzel intimated that he was considering enlisting Russian aid. Napoleon was furious and declared, "The truce is now ended and war is declared--but beware! Before autumn is over, I shall shatter your empire like I shatter this vase." And with that, Napoleon picked up the vase and smashed it in the fireplace."

      Fortunately, Napoleon's brother Joseph was also at the conference. According to the report, Joseph gathered the pieces and had the vase restored. After Napoleon's fall from power, Joseph brought the vase to America where he later gave it to a friend, Adam David Logan.

      Mr. Logan gave the vase to Miss Mary B. Alburtis, a young New York society woman to whom he was betrothed. However, Mr. Logan died before their wedding day and Miss Alburtis kept the vase in his memory until she bequeathed it to Dr. Martha Huson, her physician.

      Dr. Huson later borrowed $3000 from a nurse, Miss Margaret Conway. Dr. Huson pledged the vase as collateral for the loan, which she was unable to repay. Yet, Dr. Huson did not want to turn the vase over. She estimated its value as $150,000 ($1,796,137 in today's dollars). However, a judgment was issued against Dr. Huson, and the vase was set to be sold at auction to pay off the debt.

      Apparently the auction never happened. The article concludes by reporting that possession of the vase had been transferred to Miss Conway. Current owners of the vase are relatives of a friend of Miss Conway to whom she eventually gave the vase.

      Description of Vase:

      The vase features a richly painted portrait believed to be that of Catherine II of Russia.

      Its base has a dark-red, inverted 'N' surmounted by five stars.

      The damages to the vase brought on by Napoleon's temper tantrum have been repaired, and the vase is again fully intact. Interestingly, the cracks help to authenticate the vase?they exactly match the cracks pictured in the New York Times article.

      There is significant corrosion and peeling inside the mouth of the vase. Furthermore, the nut and bolt to attach the base is corroded.

      The base can be reattached to the vase itself: there is an opening in the bottom of the vase that is the right size to accommodate the bolt. Yet, insofar as the condition of this vase is the highlight of its story, we are leaving all assembly and restoration decisions to the buyer.

      The vase's dimensions are as follows:

      Height (vase only) 13 1/2"

      Height (inc. base) 16 1/2"

      Width mouth 5"

      Width widest part 10"

      Alternative Version of the Story:

      Here's another version of the story taken from John Holland Rose's The Life of Napoleon I (1912). It gives a different picture of how the vase came to be shattered. Regardless of the historical interpretation, it is clear that the vase's fate was the direct result of Napoleon's hot temper.

      "...On the fate of these islands a stormy discussion arose, Cobenzl stipulating for their complete independence, while Bonaparte passionately claimed them for France. In one of these sallies his vehement gestures overturned a cabinet with a costly vase: but the story that he smashed the vase, as a sign of his power to crush the house of Austria is a later refinement on the incident, about which Cobenzl merely reported to Vienna -- "He behaved like a fool."

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      My Yugoslavian Collection

      in Southern European & Balkan States

      Posted

      Dear Dan,

      that's right, "Punzierung" means in German the 2 small stamps on the rv.

      YU-made awards in pure silver always have the silver marks, but no Soviet-made award had any of these. Silver - or gold - marks had not been common in the Soviet Union.

      Best regards :beer:

      Christian

      Hi Christian,

      Many thanks! It was a term I'd not heard before and I tried looking it up without any luck. Funny enough I hadn't even noticed them until I did the scans. It's amazing how often that happens with me. I guess my eyesight is getting worse than I thought! :P

      But they sure are pretty and I think as with OGPW and RS's that I'm hooked on these. Dying to get a Soviet made example but think whenever I can I'll try to pick them up regardless and start another herd. :lol:

      I'm sure as with OGPW and such... if you put them in a box (as Gerd says) they'll breed. :beer:

      Dan :cheers:

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      Bundeswehr Stein

      in Germany: Post 1945: Bundesrepublik & DDR

      Posted

      As you probably know, Dothan is very close to Ft. Rucker which is a major Army rotary and fixed wing aviation training center. The stein is very likely from someone who is/was stationed there.

      Regards,

      Ed

      Hi Ed,

      Definitely knew that. When we lived in north Florida we'd get their copters over our place quite often... along with other aircraft from the naval and air bases in that part of Florida. About the only aircraft we'd see except for life flight on occassion, a logging company chopper or crop duster.

      There are a few surplus stores in that area and they do indeed pick up goodies from the personnel stationed there. I got a helicopter helmet many moons ago at once such store. Often see some great pieces in the area.

      Dan :cheers:

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      Bundeswehr Stein

      in Germany: Post 1945: Bundesrepublik & DDR

      Posted

      Slightly outside Military but nice:

      Bavarian Border Police, 30th Aniversary, hand-painted piece. :love:

      Kevin in Deva. :beer:

      Hi Kevin,

      Terrific collection. I especially like the Polizei one... but green being my favorite color that was natural. :D Many thanks for sharing them. I hope to see more examples posted over time. Nice thing about these is how cheap they generally are... unlike the WWI and WWII examples which are just out of sight. Even the remakes of same tend to be pricey. But I've found most of mine for about $5 each or less. This one was about $18 which is the most I've paid. But as it was one of the very few military related items of interest I found on my trip I felt it was worth it.

      Dan :cheers:

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      IC 2nd... Opinions?

      in Germany: All Eras: The Iron Cross

      Posted

      Here are pics from another attempt earlier in the season:

      And although there were spots that flaked off due to the humidity problems and such... looking at these pictures again I almost feel it made it look like more of an original old paint job as I've seen many that looked like that after so many years of wear and tear and such.

      Anyhow... when he decides to try it again I'll keep ya'll posted and show it again once it's done. :beer:

      Dan :cheers:

      0

      IC 2nd... Opinions?

      in Germany: All Eras: The Iron Cross

      Posted · Edited by Hauptman

      I feel the new paint is a definite improvement over the old brush strokes and such, especially on the back.

      A friend of mine locally (and a fellow member) (Thanks Ernie!!!!) did it for me. He's a master of repainting cars and is a perfectionist. He took this on as a challenge. He's actually still not satisfied after redoing it at least 30 times! He said that the humidity this summer (unusual here in North Dakota) is messing up how the paint is drying. So once the weather changes he wants another crack at it.

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      My Yugoslavian Collection

      in Southern European & Balkan States

      Posted

      Lieber Stefan,

      yes, of course, also the IKOM-Partisan-Star is made of silver and you can see the "Punzierungen" on Dan's scan :D .

      Best regards :beer:

      Christian

      Hi Christian,

      Mucho thanks for answering on this one. :beer: I did want to ask... by "Punzierungen" I take it you mean those small stamps on the back... I'm assuming they are silver marks then? I can try to get better scans of them if that would help.

      Dan :cheers:

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      My Yugoslavian Collection

      in Southern European & Balkan States

      Posted

      Dear Dan,

      congratulations to your fast growing YU-collection :cheers: .

      Your new Partisan Star is an extremly nice example of YU-made one - I only have Soviet-made ones in my collection :( .

      And your "Orden Rada" is a real beauty :love: .

      Prices are still rather low for YU-items, so go on with collecting :D .

      Best regards :beer:

      Christian

      Hi Christian,

      Many thanks my friend! Little by little it'll get where I'd like it to be. :beer: I can't wait to get a Soviet made Partisan Star and the next in the Labor series.

      Dan :cheers:

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