Infantry shield from Burgundian territories, circa 1470-75. COLLECTION PHILIPPE MISSILLIER, Giquello Auction House, Drouot - rooms 5-6, March 6th & 7th, 2025.
Sold out
PHILIPPE MISSILLIER COLLECTION
ANCIENT TIMES - BOOKS - 17TH CENTURY FIREARMS
HUNTING ART - PHALERISTICS
18TH AND 19TH CENTURY WEAPONS - RUSSIAN ART
Friday, March 7, 2025 - 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
AFRICA AND OCEANIA - FAR EAST
Friday, March 7, 2025 - 2:00 pm
ISLAMIC AND INDIAN ART
Drouot - rooms 5-6
EXHIBITION
Tuesday, March 4 from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
Wednesday, March 5 from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
Thursday, March 6 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Phone during the exhibition +33(0)1 48 00 20 05
GIQUELLO
Alexandre Giquello
Violette Stcherbatcheff
5, rue La Boétie - 75008 Paris
+33 (0)1 47 42 78 01 - info@giquello.net
Subject to approval
No. 2002 389
CONTACT
Claire Richon
+33(0)1 47 70 48 00
c.richon@giquello.net
SPECIALIST
Marina Viallon
+33 (0)6 72 42 57 24
marina.viallon@yahoo.fr
Lot 29 (from the sale)
Burgundian Infantry Shield, circa 1470-75
H. 75 cm - W. 45 cm
€25,000/€35,000
Burgundian infantry shield bearing the emblem of Duke Charles the Bold, slightly convex, rectangular with rounded corners and a central gutter. Made of wood covered in raw leather, front lined with cloth painted in white with a large red St. Andrew's Cross, flanked by gold flints and black fire stones emitting sparks from the House of Burgundy. Some areas show gaps in the paint layer revealing the underlying design drawn on the fine preparatory gesso. On the reverse side, the raw leather is dyed with a reddish-brown pigment, and iron staples hold two handles made of leather padded with animal hair.
This shield likely comes from the spoils taken by the Swiss after the Battle of Grandson on March 2, 1476, a significant event of the Burgundian Wars opposing Charles the Bold to the Swiss Confederation and the Duchy of Lorraine, allies of King Louis XI from 1474 to 1477. On February 28, 1476, the Burgundian troops captured the town and the mighty castle of Grandson defended by a Bernese garrison. A powerful confederate army then marched and faced the Duke of Burgundy and his troops on March 2. The Burgundians, eventually surrounded, retreated, leaving their camp behind. The Swiss, unable to pursue them due to lack of cavalry, thus looted Charles the Bold's camp. Among the valuable items, many banners and shields were seized as trophies, often hung in Swiss arsenals or public buildings in memory of this victory. This was likely the case with this shield, allowing for its exceptional preservation. Two large shields from the Battle of Grandson, displaying a similar design, are now held in Swiss museums, one at the National Museum in Zurich (KZ386), and the other at the Historical Museum in Bern. The paint layer is cracked and partly missing, especially on the edges and lower part, one of the handles is broken.
ANCIENT TIMES - BOOKS - 17TH CENTURY FIREARMS
HUNTING ART - PHALERISTICS
18TH AND 19TH CENTURY WEAPONS - RUSSIAN ART
Friday, March 7, 2025 - 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
AFRICA AND OCEANIA - FAR EAST
Friday, March 7, 2025 - 2:00 pm
ISLAMIC AND INDIAN ART
Drouot - rooms 5-6
EXHIBITION
Tuesday, March 4 from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
Wednesday, March 5 from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
Thursday, March 6 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Phone during the exhibition +33(0)1 48 00 20 05
GIQUELLO
Alexandre Giquello
Violette Stcherbatcheff
5, rue La Boétie - 75008 Paris
+33 (0)1 47 42 78 01 - info@giquello.net
Subject to approval
No. 2002 389
CONTACT
Claire Richon
+33(0)1 47 70 48 00
c.richon@giquello.net
SPECIALIST
Marina Viallon
+33 (0)6 72 42 57 24
marina.viallon@yahoo.fr
Lot 29 (from the sale)
Burgundian Infantry Shield, circa 1470-75
H. 75 cm - W. 45 cm
€25,000/€35,000
Burgundian infantry shield bearing the emblem of Duke Charles the Bold, slightly convex, rectangular with rounded corners and a central gutter. Made of wood covered in raw leather, front lined with cloth painted in white with a large red St. Andrew's Cross, flanked by gold flints and black fire stones emitting sparks from the House of Burgundy. Some areas show gaps in the paint layer revealing the underlying design drawn on the fine preparatory gesso. On the reverse side, the raw leather is dyed with a reddish-brown pigment, and iron staples hold two handles made of leather padded with animal hair.
This shield likely comes from the spoils taken by the Swiss after the Battle of Grandson on March 2, 1476, a significant event of the Burgundian Wars opposing Charles the Bold to the Swiss Confederation and the Duchy of Lorraine, allies of King Louis XI from 1474 to 1477. On February 28, 1476, the Burgundian troops captured the town and the mighty castle of Grandson defended by a Bernese garrison. A powerful confederate army then marched and faced the Duke of Burgundy and his troops on March 2. The Burgundians, eventually surrounded, retreated, leaving their camp behind. The Swiss, unable to pursue them due to lack of cavalry, thus looted Charles the Bold's camp. Among the valuable items, many banners and shields were seized as trophies, often hung in Swiss arsenals or public buildings in memory of this victory. This was likely the case with this shield, allowing for its exceptional preservation. Two large shields from the Battle of Grandson, displaying a similar design, are now held in Swiss museums, one at the National Museum in Zurich (KZ386), and the other at the Historical Museum in Bern. The paint layer is cracked and partly missing, especially on the edges and lower part, one of the handles is broken.
Reference :
Étude Giquello, Drouot - salles 5-6, les 6 & 7 mars 2025
Next update Friday, april 4th at 1:30 PM
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