Sunday, 4 May 2014

Frederick the Great The Uniforms of the Prussian Army under Frederick the Great 1740 to 1786

About the book

824 pages (linen bound with a protective cover, it comprises two volumes in a slipcase), ca. 1500 colour photographs and illustrations, Format: 29.5 cm x 26 cm

The authors

Daniel Hohrath, with additional contributions from Judith Zimmer and Elisabeth Boxberger

Price

€ 129.90

ISBN

978-3-902526-51-9 (English)
978-3-902526-50-2 (German)

Content

This work represents a new basis for the study of the Army of the Prussian King Frederick the Great; it is an indispensable standard work for anyone interested in the military and cultural history and the crafts of that era. It depicts the uniforms of an army whose military successes laid the foundation for the rise of 18th century Prussia as a major European power, and which, like its royal commander became the military ideal for all of Europe. Their particular style and the grandeur of their equipment were widely copied, and – uniquely for that day – collected by Frederick’s successors for posterity. The result of those efforts is the world’s best collection of 18th  century uniforms, now in Berlin’s Deutsches Historisches Museum, located in the old Royal Arsenal, the Zeughaus. Here, for the first time, all of the more than 200 items are presented and described individually and in detail, with high quality colour photographs and precise measurements.
Many of these original pieces were previously unknown, or had been seen only in drawings or poor quality old photographs. Supplementing these illustrations are photographs of items from other European collections. The total of some 1500 photographs shows an almost complete series of fusiliers’ and grenadiers’ caps, along with such items as cuirassiers’ coatees and hussars’ dolmans, sabretaches, caparisons, cartridge boxes and hats. There are also several uniform coats, including one worn by King Frederick himself.
In addition, this work includes a complete reproduction of the Lace Pattern Book of 1755, a manuscript containing the original embroidery and braid patterns of over 100 Prussian regiments, which is kept at the Deutsches Historisches Museum.
Finally it contains reproductions of the portraits of a large number of Prussian Army officers of the Seven Years’ War period, many of them previously barely known; most are from the Field Marshals’ Hall of the Prussian Military Academy in Groß-Lichterfelde. Also shown are drawings and black-and-white photographs of items from the old Zeughaus Collection that have since been lost.
The text includes explanations of the uniforms and their development, and short histories of each regiment in the Old Prussian Army. It is prefaced by historical essays on the Army of Frederick the Great and the history of the Zeughaus Collection, and includes an in-depth examination of the materials, designs and production methods of the uniforms and trimmings, from the point of view of modern textile conservation.



Friday, 25 April 2014

Almansa 1707

This battle of the War of Spanish Succession took place today 1707. Wiki here. Down in Spain they are reenacting it this weekend so if you are in the area try to catch it

Friday, 18 April 2014

Skirmish between British and French cavalry c1760

By David Morier. Here for a zoomable version. 
For a FB page dedicated to the living history of the SYW -
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Minden1759/

Wednesday, 16 April 2014

Edinburgh City Guard

As its Culloden day I thought I'd feature a North of the Border group and this one looks definitely worth checking out. Website here

Culloden

Fought today 1746.
Wiki here

Sunday, 13 April 2014

The Bivouac (1710)

By Watteau. From here
Another of Watteau's military paintings is here

Wednesday, 2 April 2014

Camp followers

Artist
Title Soldiers and Camp Followers Resting from a March
Date circa