The Arabian horses of the Honvéd army

[Arabian Horses at the Hungarian National Stud]. Collection of original vintage photographs.

Bábolna, c. 1885.

11 vintage photo prints (ca. 90 x 120 mm, but one 105 x 170 mm) on backing cardboard (20 x 25 cm).

 9.500,00

Highly uncommon photographs of Arabian horses (all individually captioned) at the famous Bábolna stud in Hungary, the principal stud for producing the best horses for the Austro-Hungarian military in the 19th century. The "Bábolna Nemzeti Ménesbirtok" (Bábolna National Stud) was founded by Emperor Joseph II in 1789. In 1816 it was decreed that henceforth only Arabian stallions should be used for stud service - a policy that raised the quality of the Austrian cavalry's horses to a famous level and necessitated the frequent introduction of new pure-bred Arabian stallions from the Middle East. One of the greatest commanders and stud-masters of Bábolna, Mihály Fadlallah el Hedad, hailed from Syria.

The photos show portraits of the horses Sechun, Nadir, Tahita, Nasira, Celeby, Dzerid, El Hafi, El Denedzi, Hiläl, Riat, as well as a larger group portrait showing several of the horses with their Arabian and Austro-Hungarian trainers. Some slight staining to backboards, but altogether well-preserved. Extremely rare.

Art.-Nr.: BN#32454 Schlagwörter: , , ,