Introduction to the World of German Auctions

Reviews of sales from leading German auctions can serve several purposes. Firstly, they help navigate the wide selection of items offered at auction. Secondly, such reports provide insight into pricing in the German antique market.

A detailed account of the items promotes a deeper study of the material. Antiques are part of a country's cultural heritage, and becoming acquainted with them is an opportunity to better understand its history, customs, and traditions. This allows for a deeper acquaintance with the history of a country like Germany.

Hargesheimer Auction House

One of the leading German auctions, Hargesheimer, is located in the city of Düsseldorf. It specializes in the sale of classic antiques, Asian and modern art, as well as Orthodox religious relics.

Many collectors, for example, of copper-cast plastics, are long-standing clients of this auction house. They are attracted by the competence, integrity, professionalism of the staff, and the speed of order processing.

It is important to note that a 25% auction fee, as well as shipping costs, must be added to the prices announced at the auction.

Silver Casket of Emperor Alexander II

Lot number 198 is a silver casket with a portrait of Emperor Alexander II, who went down in history as a great reformer. Such caskets were usually given for military or state services, and their value varied depending on the rank of the recipient.

Enamel Case by Ivan Khlebnikov

Another interesting item is a rare case with animal decor, made using the cloisonné enamel technique. It is the work of the famous Moscow master Ivan Khlebnikov, dating back to the 1880s.

Egg Pendant by Carl Fabergé

An elegant egg-shaped pendant from the famous Fabergé firm was presented at the auction. The work was done by one of the firm's leading master jewelers, Henrik Wigström.

"View of Petersburg" by Max Birstein

Lot No. 98 is the painting "View of Petersburg" by the Soviet painter Max Avadievich Birstein. He is a prominent representative of Soviet Impressionism, and his works are held in major Russian museums and private collections worldwide.

Miniature "Maxim" Machine Gun by Fabergé

One of the most unusual lots is a miniature in the form of a "Maxim" machine gun, made by the firm of Carl Fabergé in 1914. It is a finely detailed work in partially gilded silver.

Easter Eggs from the Lukutin Manufactory

Two papier-mâché Easter eggs were made at the Lukutin manufactory in the late 19th century. This factory, originally owned by the merchant Korobov in the village of Fedoskino, was one of the largest in Russia in the field of lacquer production.

One egg is decorated with an image of the "Descent of Christ into Hell" and a view of Moscow, the second with the "Resurrection of Christ" and also a view of Moscow. Both items are made using polychrome painting technique with partial gilding. Inside each egg is the manufacturer's mark in the form of an eagle and the initials 'ФАЛ', as well as the inscription 'From the St. Petersburg Old Believer Community'.

Each of the eggs was sold for €1,500.

Order of St. Anne, First Class

A classic lot was the Order of St. Anne, First Class. This award badge was made in Moscow in 1835. The minimum starting price of 700 euros rose to 5,000 euros during the bidding.

Historical Photographs of Vladivostok

Three lots were presented at the auction, each including four photographs of pre-revolutionary Vladivostok. The pictures were taken by the German photographer T. Mohr between approximately 1905 and 1910.

• Large size: 53x43 cm.
• Each is mounted on cardboard.
• At the bottom, there is an inscription in German, and on the back, a studio stamp and an inscription in Cyrillic.
• The value of these photographs lies in the fact that they captured not the central part of Russia, but the provinces, showing the solid buildings of Vladivostok of that time.

Each of the three lots was sold for €1,000.

Monumental 18th Century Iconostasis Cross

Lot No. 708 is a monumental cross for an iconostasis, created in Greece in 1703. Its impressive dimensions (170 cm in height and almost 130 cm in width) and fine workmanship make it particularly noteworthy.

16th Century "Old Testament Trinity" Icon

The last lot reviewed was a large "Old Testament Trinity" icon, dating from the 16th century. This art object showed a significant price increase at the auction.

The sale price was almost four times the initial estimate, indicating strong collector interest in this work.