189 Commander's Baton of a Spanish Military Leader from the War of the Spanish Succesion, 1701 - 1715.
The shaft covered with red silk and completely embroidered with Bourbon lilies (fleur de lys) in bulbous gilded silver bullion embroidery. The upper pommel is a tournament helmet with a closed visor in fire-gilt bronze. The lower pommel decorated with chiselled foliage.
Similar military batons can be seen on numerous portraits of famous army leaders of the 17th and 18th centuries. From these initially unregulated types, the marshal's batons for the highest military rank developed in various European nations in the course of the 18th century.
This example is of exquisite quality and was used over a long period of time. Accordingly, the baton shows strong signs of wear and use.
Nevertheless, an important and significant military collector's item of great rarity.
Length: 53 cm.