Description:

An excellent personal relic of the father of modern Finland, Field Marshall CARL GUSTAF VON MANNERHEIM (1867-1951), a finely-crafted silver cigarette holder given by him to a wounded Finnish soldier during the Winter War against the Soviet Union. The holder, 2 3/4" long, is squared at the tip and tapers to a flattened mouthpiece. The four panels of the squared section are decorated with well-executed engravings depicting a lion grasping a sword, a running hound, a fish, and a perching bird. The mouthpiece likewise bears the engraved images of a woman in profile and a running stag. Each image is skillfully shaded to provide depth. The piece shows no maker;s marks, and shows very minor tarnish, else very good. The cigarette holder is accompanied by a notarized A.L.S. from Kaarina V. Rittmer, dated Oct. 2, 1983, affirming that it was given to her father, Johannes Viranen, by Mannerheim himself. In full: "This silver cigarette holder with block decoration was given to my father John (Johannes) Viranen a former captain with the 5th Division of the Army of Finland, whilst in hospital by Field Marshal Von Mannerheim. Captain Viranen was severely wounded during the Battle of Suma [Summa] in late 1939. My father related the story several times over the years of the Marshal visiting his ward and coming to tears on speaking with him at the end of their conversation placing this holder with a lit cigarette in his mouth. [all sic]" Combat against Soviet forces at Summa occurred in two phases, the first, in December of 1939, undoubtedly the battle referred to here. In this engagement, twenty Soviet tanks exploited a gap in Finnish fortifications, but poor communication with supporting infantry allowed the Finns to cut them off behind their lines and destroy them at will. The Summa fortifications were abandoned in February of 1940 in the face of heavy and repeated Soviet attacks, with great losses of life on both sides.

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November 20, 2019 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000