Swiss Guard with halberd and "Tieger-Hündgen"

Swiss Guard with halberd and "Tieger-Hündgen", probably Dresden to 1720-1730. Baroque pearl, gold, silver, gold, enamel, diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires. 13.3 x 9.3 x 6.5 cm16.3 x 7.8 x 6.0 cm. VI 112. Green Vault. © Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden

The Swiss Guard has made his halberd as members of Trabant Garde a prince. Duly he stands, parade down the weapon in his right hand, the left against the hips in a blue dress uniform with gold trimmings. In front of him sits a small, almost caricature-like appearing "Tieger = Hündgen" a Dalmatian with head and back of pearls. The guardsman, who turns his head slightly to the right, has a beaded chest and pants and is adorned with a lush patch of small diamonds that cover in dense rows, especially the sleeves. The parade soldier stands on a typical for this area of goldsmiths checkered past flower tiles. The compact base is made of gilded silver with rubies, emeralds and sapphires of high quality. The rather large gems are integrated into the colored enameled ornament from late baroque strapwork and festoons. In the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, there are two other Swiss Guards and a scissors-grinder, who also come from the workshop of the gold worker. The two satellites of the princely Hermitage differ from the Dresden pieces only by the shape of the base, and by details of the less expensive clothing. Typical of the unknown master face shape with inlaid in a silver setting diamond eyes, the narrow waist of the beads and the overall gesture of the man parade step were repeated in exactly two soldiers.
Source: http://www.alaintruong.com/archives/2013/08/26/27899124.html