July 12-14, 2022 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/12/2022
Friedrich August only used the CFA cypher for a scant 3 years, 1694-1697. Blade measures 15" with a flattened diamond section blade and a raised medial ridge. Base with elaborate wings and acid etched with floral designs on a blackened ground, with the base of the blade with CFA cypher on one side, and the arms of the electorate of Saxony on the other side, surmounted by a crown. Faceted socket with 10 sides. Straps retained by 5 nails on each side, octagonal shaft with black lacquer, a later replacement. Friedrich August I is best remembered as becoming the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, and his epithet "the Strong", which he apparently liked to demonstrate by breaking horseshoes with his bare hands. He was awarded the Order of the Golden Fleece after he converted to Roman Catholicism and established the Order of the White Eagle, the highest order Poland awards to civilians and military, still in use today. He ruled until his death in 1733 (with a brief interruption in 1706-1709 when Sweden installed Stanislaus I with August returning only after Battle of Poltava, which resulted in the death of one of Stanislaus's main supporters, Charles XII), at which point controversy over his successor led to the War of the Polish Succession (which, amusingly enough, included Stanislaus on the side of Sejm). PROVENANCE: William E. Simon Collection, sold at Little John's Auction Service January 9th, 2005, Lot 147. CONDITION: Metal has some evidence of delamination and cleaning in the European style, with some scattered darkness. Wooden shaft is later, and has been covered in a black lacquer which is also present on the straps. Acid etching is good with easily seen cyphers. EMW