Del Prado Hanoverian Dragoon NCO 1871: A Regional Name in a Changed Army

Del Prado · Nineteenth century · Germany, 1871

A light blue coat and a long raised weapon give this dragoon a crisp mounted silhouette. The Hanoverian name identifies a regional tradition, while the 1871 date places the figure after Hanover had lost its independent kingdom.

Hanover after 1866

Prussia annexed the Kingdom of Hanover in 1866 and incorporated its territory as a province. By 1871, a figure described as Hanoverian should therefore not automatically be presented as serving an independent Hanoverian state. The political framework had changed even when regional names continued to matter.

The dealer identifies a dragoon non-commissioned officer dated 1871. The cavalry index gives a broader 1871–88 range. The narrower dealer date is used here to identify the photographed model, without assigning a regiment number that the available reference does not establish.

A light coat above a brown horse

The photo shows a rider in a light blue coat with bright cuffs, a dark helmet and dark lower clothing. A long weapon extends forward and upward from the hand. The brown horse moves with a foreleg lifted, giving the figure a purposeful outline without a fully rearing pose.

The coat makes this dragoon stand out beside darker hussars and cuirassiers. Compare the helmet shape, weapon angle and saddle furniture when matching a loose example. Similar light blue paint appears on other cavalry subjects and cannot settle the identification alone.

Condition along the diagonal

Inspect the long weapon from two angles, especially near the hand. Its projection is vulnerable during packing and can look straight when viewed along its length. Check the helmet, reins, ears and the raised foreleg, then look at the stirrups and lower edges of the coat.

A photograph of the underside helps assess the base and any old repair around the horse’s feet. The figure should stand level without the appearance of a twisted gait caused by damage.

Place this dragoon near earlier Prussian or Hanoverian subjects for a timeline of regional cavalry. Give the weapon clear space above the next model. A side view records the horse’s movement; a three-quarter front view records the light coat and helmet more effectively. Keeping both photographs makes the collection record useful even after the display is rearranged.

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