{"product_id":"general-cloak-of-the-english-army-ernst-august-of-hanover-ca-1910","title":"Ernst August of Hanover – Provisional English General’s Tunic, Firmin \u0026 Son, ca. 1900","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis \u003cstrong\u003eexceptionally rare provisional tunic or cloak\u003c\/strong\u003e, worn by \u003cstrong\u003eErnst August (II) of Hanover (1845–1923)\u003c\/strong\u003e in his capacity as a \u003cstrong\u003eGeneral of the English Army\u003c\/strong\u003e, is a remarkable piece of late 19th‑ to early 20th‑century aristocratic military attire. Tailored in the \u003cstrong\u003eEnglish style\u003c\/strong\u003e, the long tunic is made of \u003cstrong\u003efine black cloth\u003c\/strong\u003e, with \u003cstrong\u003eblack velvet cuffs\u003c\/strong\u003e and a \u003cstrong\u003eblack velvet stand‑up collar\u003c\/strong\u003e, reflecting the understated elegance of high‑ranking British officers’ uniforms.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe front displays \u003cstrong\u003etwo rows of eight gilt buttons\u003c\/strong\u003e, each bearing the insignia of a \u003cstrong\u003egeneral of the mounted artillery\u003c\/strong\u003e—crossed sword and cannon within a laurel wreath. The reverse of the buttons carries the embossed maker’s mark \u003cstrong\u003e“Firmin \u0026amp; Son Ld. London”\u003c\/strong\u003e, one of Britain’s most prestigious military outfitters. The tunic is lined in \u003cstrong\u003eblack cloth\u003c\/strong\u003e, with the sleeves finished in \u003cstrong\u003ewhite silk\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA historically important detail is the \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal inventory label\u003c\/strong\u003e from the royal wardrobe of the House of Hanover, attached to the left lapel. It reads (translated): \u003cem\u003e“Wardrobe of His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, Duke of Brunswick and Lüneburg – object”\u003c\/em\u003e with handwritten additions: \u003cem\u003e“Provisional tunic Engl.”\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003e“no. 3”\u003c\/em\u003e. The piece is preserved in \u003cstrong\u003every good to excellent condition\u003c\/strong\u003e. Photographs shown in listings are not included.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical Context\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eErnst August (II)\u003c\/strong\u003e—Crown Prince of Hanover, 3rd Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale, and Duke of Brunswick and Lüneburg—was the only son of \u003cstrong\u003eGeorge V\u003c\/strong\u003e, the last King of Hanover. After Prussia annexed the kingdom in 1866, he followed his father into exile in Austria, where \u003cstrong\u003eEmperor Franz Joseph I\u003c\/strong\u003e admitted him to the Austrian army as a colonel. Upon his father’s death in 1878, he inherited the ducal titles. \u003cstrong\u003eQueen Victoria\u003c\/strong\u003e appointed him \u003cstrong\u003eKnight of the Order of the Garter\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eGeneral of the English Army\u003c\/strong\u003e, strengthening his ties to the British royal family. His refusal to reconcile with the House of Hohenzollern kept political tensions alive until 1913, when his son \u003cstrong\u003eErnst August (III)\u003c\/strong\u003e married \u003cstrong\u003ePrincess Viktoria Luise\u003c\/strong\u003e, daughter of \u003cstrong\u003eEmperor Wilhelm II\u003c\/strong\u003e. Ernst August (II) then renounced his claims to the Duchy of Brunswick in favour of his son.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eProvenance\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSotheby’s – “The Royal House of Hanover”\u003c\/strong\u003e, Marienburg Castle, 29 September – 8 October 2005.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA museum‑worthy garment of exceptional rarity, ideal for collectors of \u003cstrong\u003eroyal memorabilia\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eEuropean aristocratic uniforms\u003c\/strong\u003e, and \u003cstrong\u003e19th‑century military history\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ANTIQUE GOWN","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55380027933059,"sku":"","price":2250.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0913\/1897\/6899\/files\/antiker_Interimsrock_General_Ernst_August_von_Hannover_1910.jpg?v=1745235296","url":"https:\/\/www.antique-gown.com\/products\/general-cloak-of-the-english-army-ernst-august-of-hanover-ca-1910","provider":"ANTIQUE GOWN","version":"1.0","type":"link"}