40 An important meerschaum pipe from the Württemberg royal family.
The pipe bowl is meerschaum with a sculpted royal Württemberg coat of arms. Underlaid with crossed marshal's batons and the Grand Cross of the Austrian Military Order of Maria Theresa.
The sculpted initials "FF" of Ferdinand Friedrich of Württemberg on the back.
The lid and mount made of silver, partially gilt, in the shape of the detachable Württemberg crown in the most elaborate and finest goldsmith's work.
With various master's marks and silver marquetry (13 Löth).
The ebony shaft is trimmed with silver and mother-of-pearl. The mouthpiece made of carved amber.
Total length approx. 50 cm. Height of the bowl 14.5 cm.
A pipe of exceptional craftsmanship and elaborate workmanship in keeping with its royal provenance.
A rare and splendid memento of this Austrian military leader from the House of Württemberg.
Ferdinand Friedrich August, Duke of Württemberg (* 21 October 1763 in Treptow an der Rega, Hinterpommern; † 20 January 1834 in Wiesbaden) was an Austrian field marshal.
Ferdinand Friedrich August was a son of Duke Friedrich Eugen von Württemberg (1732-1797) from his marriage to Friederike Dorothea Sophia von Brandenburg-Schwedt (1736-1798).
At the age of 18, he joined the Austrian army as a lieutenant colonel. During his participation in the Turkish War, he was promoted to major general on 9 April 1788 and to field marshal lieutenant on 20 August 1790. After the outbreak of war against revolutionary France, he took part in the battles in the Netherlands and on the Lower Rhine in 1796. In March 1793, under Archduke Charles, he took part in the Battle of Neerwinden with his second encounter. He threw back the French left wing under General Champmorin and stormed Leau. On 7 April, he took over the siege of Condé and forced the commanding General Chancel to surrender on 11 July 1792. For this success, the duke was awarded the Commander's Cross of the Order of Maria Theresa on 23 July 1793. In spring 1794, he helped the bishopric of Liège, which was threatened by French troops, but was unable to prevent its loss. In the campaign of 1795, he led his army corps against the invasion of the French army under Marshal Jourdan on the Rhine and operated between the Lahn and Sieg rivers. Between 9 and 16 September, he fought several battles at Dünebach, Schlibusch, Buschdorf, Blankenberg, Uckeradt, Weyerbusch and Freylingen, which forced him to retreat hastily. The conclusion of a convention in Ehrenbreitstein on 4 January 1796 finally brought this campaign to an end. On 21 March 1796, Duke Ferdinand was promoted to field commander. In the campaign of 1796, he took command of an 18,000-strong corps on the Lower Rhine, which operated against the left wing of the Sambre and Meuse army of the French general Kleber. At the end of June 1796, a physical ailment forced him to leave active military service, whereupon he withdrew to Vienna.
When Bonaparte advanced from Italy against Inner Austria in the spring of 1797, Duke Ferdinand was reactivated and appointed Commanding General in Inner and Upper Austria on 18 March. On 12 April 1796, he took over the organisation of the Volunteer Corps for the protection of Vienna and moved into his headquarters in Klosterneuburg. However, the peace preliminaries of Leoben concluded by Archduke Karl on 18 April rendered the further formation obsolete. Twice in 1798-1799 and 1805 he acted as military plenipotentiary in St Petersburg. As Commanding General of Inner Austria, he took up residence in Graz and supported the actions of the Russian auxiliary corps in Upper Italy in August 1799. On 5 September 1800, he was appointed Commanding General above and below the Enns and City Commander of Vienna. On 1 April 1805, the Emperor honoured him with the title of Imperial Field Marshal. He remained city commander of Vienna until 1820; his last command was as governor of the federal fortress of Mainz from 1829 to 1834.
As a member of the royal house, Ferdinand held a seat in Württemberg's chamber of the estates since 1851. However, he never attended in person and did not allow himself to be represented.
Ferdinand was married twice. On 18 March 1795, he married Albertine von Schwarzburg-Sondershausen (5 April 1771-25 April 1829), daughter of Prince Christian Günther I von Schwarzburg-Sondershausen and Wilhelmine von Anhalt-Bernburg. The marriage ended in divorce in 1801.
His second wife, whom he married on 23 February 1817 in Marseilles, was Pauline von Metternich-Winneburg (29 November 1771-23 June 1855), daughter of Franz Georg von Metternich-Winneburg and Maria Beatrix von Kageneck and sister of Klemens Wenzel von Metternich.
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