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King Albert of Saxony – a magnificent
sword with a dragon head and rose
Damascus blade, presented to General
Georg von Criegern in 1893
The pipe-backed blade with yelmen made of
finely forged rose Damascus. The reverse
etched with a gilt (somewhat rubbed) dedica-
tion banner reading (tr.) “To commemorate
50 years of service in 1893. Albert” above the
crowned sovereign’s cipher “AR”, another
banner on the obverse inscribed (tr.) “Bear this
arm – in Saxony’s honour!” above the crowned
coat of arms of Saxony. The gilt ricasso
marked “Eisenhauer” and (tr.) “Genuine
Damascus”, with the fourbisseur’s inscription
“L.A. Seyffarth, Hofgürtler Dresden” on the
back. The fire-gilt hilt partially polished, the
grip spine in the shape of a winged dragon with
the raised, crowned sovereign’s cipher “AR”
on its back, its head serving as the pommel and
incorporating the knuckle guard. This riveted
to a Saxony coat of arms, held by a lion, the
crown riveted separately. The slender, open-
work basket embellished with palmette and
floral decorations and a banner inscribed
“Georg von Criegern”. The fish-scale grip
(slightly rubbed) with fine copper wire wind-
ing. Blackened steel scabbard with one mova-
ble suspension ring. Total length 104.5 cm.
Georg von Criegern (1852 - 1941) served as
adjutant to Their Majesties the Kings Albert
(until 1902), George (1902-04) and Frederick
Augustus III. He was appointed General-
leutnant in 1906.
King Albert of Saxony (1828 - 1902) started his
military training in 1843; he fought as Haupt-
mann in the First Schleswig War in 1848 and
was promoted to Oberst in 1851. He became
Crown Prince in 1854 and was responsible for
the mobilisation of the Saxon Army in the war
against Prussia in 1866. In 1871, after the
Franco-Prussian War, he became the first
non-Prussian Generalfeldmarschall and
Generalinspekteur of the 1st Armee-Inspek-
tion. He ascended the throne of Saxony on the
death of his father in 1873, reigning until his
own death in 1902.
246572
II -
€ 17.500
7212