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WWI GERMAN HONOR GOBLET PRESENTED TO FIGHTER

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 7,500.00 USD
WWI GERMAN HONOR GOBLET PRESENTED TO FIGHTER
ACE OTTO ESSWEIN ON THE OCCASION OF HIS FIRST AIR VICTORY. This exceptional hammered silver, early war Honor Goblet measures approx. 7 3/4" high x 3 3/4" in diameter. It features intricate repousse work depicting 2 eagles in pitched battle with an inscription below that reads, “Otto Esswein 15 . 11 . 1917 Jasta 26”. “Jasta 26” is short for his command, Jagdstaffel 26, one of Germany’s famed “hunting groups”. The date “15 . 11 . 1917”, commemorates the first aerial victory of Otto Esswein. The bottom of the goblet has further repousse work that reads, “Dem Sieger im Luftkampt” which roughly translates to “The Victor in Air Combat”. A sm. disk on the underside of the goblet features a Prussian eagle with the words, “CHEF DES FELDFLUGWESENS” which translates to “Chief of the Field Air Forces”. The entire goblet stands on a 4 ball base & there is a 4" solid wooden stand that displays the goblet. Offizeirstellvertreter Otto Esswein was a WWI double flying ace credited with 12 air victories. He was born in 1890 in the Kingdom of Wurttemberg. After joining the military he transferred from ground troops to the aviation service in mid 1915. At the end of October 1917, he was assigned to Jagdstaffel 26 & scored his first victory by shooting down a Sopwith Camel 6 weeks later. Esswein went on to shoot down 11 more planes with his new Fokker Dr.I triplane. He was awarded Prussia’s highest award for bravery, the Military Merit Cross in Gold. This award is comparable to the Pour le Merite, however since Esswein was a warrant officer & not a commissioned officer, he could not receive the Pour le Merite. He was also awarded the 1st & 2nd Class Iron Crosses & Wurttemberg’s Military Merit Order in gold as well as silver. Esswein was shot down on July 16, 1918 but successfully parachuted to safety from his burning plane. 5 Days later he was again shot down & killed while attacking a balloon. Included with the goblet are 9 WWI German aviation photographs that have undetermined association with Otto Esswein. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: a notebook of information about Otto Esswein & Jagdstaffel 26 along with 9 WWI aviation related original photographs possibly of Esswein & his associated planes. CONDITION: silver has expected tarnish which serves to highlight the details of the exceptional repousse work. Engraving is clear. Goblet shows exceedingly light wear overall as does the wooden base. NOTE: this goblet is not solid silver as stated in the description. It has come to our attention that this example is sheet silver over steel as produced slightly later in WWI. This magnificent Honor goblet is absolutely original and of the period. The bi-metal construction is the reason for the lack of hallmarks. PROVENANCE: Lifetime Collection of Dennis Ottaway. (02-16017/BF). $6,000-7,500.