Located in Leipzig, circa 1902. The ensemble consisting of 4 pieces:
· Elegant leather czapka. Complete with all fittings and accoutrements in officer's grade. Front features the gilt helmet star with applied silver-plated coat of arms. Domed gilt scale chains on button 91, laterally with Reich cockade in the special Saxon pattern. Wine-red parade plastron, complete with Saxon field sign, the white parade plume of buffalo hair and the silver lanyard. Interior with black leather sweatband and green rep lining. Size 56.
· Ulanka for parade duty. Cornflower blue cloth with wine-red stand collar and cuff flaps, white piping, copper-plated buttons. On the collar and cuff flaps with gold guard lace. On the shoulders thepassants for officers with gold chains, complete with epaulettes in the elegant Saxon pattern for a lieutenant, with cornflower blue cloth backing and suspension hooks. On the chest the wine-red parade plastron with white piping, with 4 loops for decorations/awards. Interior with blue silk lining. In the breast pocket with tailor's label “G. E. Döring Leipzig. No. 1522 1902 Herr Edler v. Querfurth [...] 18 Ulan”. The ulanka with a few very small moth holes.
· Cartridge box with bandolier for officers. Large cartridge box fire-gilt with applied silver coat of arms and trophies, the reverse lined with cornflower blue cloth. With matching bandolier with wide silver braid and gilt fittings, applied at front the large gilt Saxon coat of arms, the bandolier with cornflower blue cloth backing.
· Field sash for officers, the clasp gilt brass, clipped on the crowned cipher “A” (King Albert, 1896 to 1902). On 92 cm long silver bullion sash with 2 green stripes, with cornflower blue cloth backing, the leather tongue marked “W.G.D 85”.
All pieces in good condition. Condition 2.

A magnificent and very rare ensemble! The first ensemble of this completeness and quality that we have been able to offer for this regiment in 30 years!

375878

Kingdom of Saxony Uniform Ensemble of a Lieutenant for Parade Duty in the Royal Saxon 2nd Uhlan Regiment No. 18

This parade uniform ensemble of a lieutenant in the Royal Saxon 2nd Uhlan Regiment No. 18 represents an exceptional pinnacle of Saxon military tradition circa 1902. This four-piece set, consisting of tschapka, ulanka, cartridge box with bandolier, and officer's sash, documents the splendid parade uniform of a Saxon Uhlan officer during the late reign of King Albert of Saxony (1873-1902).

The Royal Saxon 2nd Uhlan Regiment No. 18 was established on April 1, 1867, following Prussia's victory in the Austro-Prussian War and Saxony's entry into the North German Confederation. The reorganization of the Saxon Army led to the creation of two new Uhlan regiments from existing cavalry units, which received the numbers 17 and 18 in the Imperial numbering sequence. Garrisoned in Leipzig, the regiment fought in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 and subsequently formed part of the Saxon contingent within the Imperial German Army.

The cornflower blue uniform with wine-red facings was characteristic of the Saxon Uhlan regiments. The 2nd Uhlan Regiment No. 18 was distinguished from the 1st Regiment No. 17 by its yellow Garde litzen, which officers wore in gold versions. The copper-plated buttons completed the regimental insignia. Uhlans served as light cavalry for reconnaissance, patrols, and mounted combat. Officers wore this magnificent parade uniform for reviews, ceremonies, and formal military occasions, while field service required simpler uniforms.

This particular ensemble was produced around 1902 by the Leipzig tailor G. E. Döring, as documented by the tailor's label in the breast pocket of the ulanka: “G. E. Döring Leipzig. No. 1522 1902 Herr Edler v. Querfurth [...] 18 Ulan.” The owner came from the Querfurth family, ennobled in 1813. The most prominent member of this family in 1902 was Hans von Querfurth (1849-1931), a wealthy industrialist, owner of iron foundries, and member of the Saxon Landtag.

The officer's sash bears the crowned cypher “A” for King Albert, who reigned from 1873 to 1902. The cypher dates the piece to the period from 1896 to 1902. King Albert died on June 19, 1902, placing this uniform in the final months of his reign. The 92 cm long silver braid with two green stripes and cornflower blue cloth backing displays the marking “W.G.D 85” on the leather tongue.

The black lacquered leather tschapka in size 56 presents the complete officer's equipment with gilt helmet star, silver-plated Saxon coat of arms, curved gilt scale chains, and the distinctive Saxon cockade. The white buffalo hair plume and silver lanyard complete the representative headgear. The ulanka displays gold Garde litzen on collar and cuffs as well as officer's passants with gold chains. The epaulettes in elegant Saxon style indicate the rank of lieutenant. The wine-red parade plastron with white piping features four loops for decorations and medals.

The fire-gilt cartridge box bears the applied silver coat of arms with trophies, while the matching bandolier features wide silver braid and the large gilt Saxon coat of arms. All pieces are backed with cornflower blue cloth, the regimental color.

The Royal Saxon 2nd Uhlan Regiment No. 18 served throughout World War I and was disbanded in 1919 following Germany's defeat and the dissolution of the German monarchies. Like all 26 German Uhlan regiments, it ceased to exist in 1918-1919. The elaborate pre-war parade uniforms became military antiquities. This specific ensemble survived as a complete and well-preserved example of Saxon Uhlan officer parade dress, representing one of the finest and rarest Saxon military uniform sets to appear on the collectors' market in recent decades.