Lot 811

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Description:

ITALIAN FASCIST HORSE BLANKET
A seldom-seen textile, a black wool horse blanket, approx. 58" x 28", backed with black linen and decorated with leather wear guards on each side, a thick border of metallic gold ribbon, and a large fasces beneath an eagle clutching a smaller fasces in gold bullion thread on each rear corner. The blanket was liberated by an American staff sergeant, the father of our consignor, belonging to the U.S. 5th Army, 3rd infantry Division. His division participated in the Allied landings at Salerno in September of 1943, and the liberation of Naples. During this time, he and his unit participated in the capture of the Royal Palace of Caserta, just north of Naples, which from 1922 to 1943 was the location of the "Accademia Aeronautica", the Italian Air Force Academy, which became the Allied Force Headquarters in the Mediterranean following its fall. He took the opportunity to "liberate" this horse blanket, along with other textiles presented in this sale, in order to save them from destruction at the hands of other GI''s. This blanket and those like it were most likely used by cadets and officer instructors of the academy in the ornate and militaristic parades held throughout fascist Italy during Mussolini''s rule. Period newsreels show rank upon rank of horsemen utilizing similar blankets during these parades, and additional photographs show that blankets of a similar, though slightly more ornate design were used on formal occasions by Mussolini and other high-ranking Italian officials. The blanket shows slight wear from occasional use, commensurate with their ceremonial nature, else very good to fine. WITH: Woven tapestry, approx. 47" x 53", depicting numerous very intricate Arabesque motifs in gold thread on a backing of green, pink, blue and gold bands. The edges are trimmed with a fringe of woven, multicolored cotton. The tapestry shows scattered ink stains, else very good. This piece was liberated from Caserta at the same time as the horse blanket described above.

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September 14, 2017 11:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, 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