Fourteen naval aviator badges from World Wars I and II are going up for auction. (Rock Island Auction Company)
This article was first published on Fox News.
Rare and antique military items with a Tiffany & Co. touch are about to hit the auction block.
Rock Island Auction Company in Rock Island, Illinois, is putting three items with war ties up for auction during its event from Dec. 9 to 11.
Rock Island Auction Company interactive production manager Joel Kolander shared the details of each item in an interview with Fox News Digital.
The auctioning expert explained that while today’s public thinks of Tiffany & Co. as a fine jewelry seller, the luxury brand has some of its earliest roots in Civil War-era weaponry.
“Tiffany & Co. is renowned as an American artisan,” he said.
“Most of us know them for their silversmith capabilities — more contemporary for their jewelry and engagement rings … but it wasn’t always that way.”
Tiffany & Co. was known for its “fine presentation” of officers’ swords during wartime, Kolander added.
“Their emphasis on craftsmanship is apparent even 160 years ago,” he said. “They’re superb objects.”
He described these “atypical” pieces as a “prize” for sword collectors and other interested parties.
The first item on the auction block is the Gen. Sickles Excelsior Brigade sword made by Collins and embellished by Tiffany & Co.
The sword belonging to Gettysburg Commander Maj. Gen. Daniel E. Sickles features golden artistry with intricate gilt and molding.
The handle is crafted into a knight’s head with a detailed torso, while the cross guard has a lion’s head carved into it.
“Excelsior” is etched into the scabbard, which signifies its birthplace of New York.
This also refers to Sickles’ military unit in the Union Army, also known as the Excelsior Brigade.
The rest of the inscription reads, “Presented to Gen. Sickles by his sincere friend.”
The scabbard and blade are decked out in foliage designs and patriotic motifs, such as American flags and an eagle.
To see all of the items being auctioned off, you can visit their website here.