Kingdom of Saxony: Magnificent Dragon-Head Saber with Rose Damascus Blade as a Gift from King Albert of Saxony to General Gottlob Freiherr von Hodenberg from the Year 1893
Very fine genuine Damascus blade with reinforced back and fuller, the Damascus with fine roses. The blade etched and gilt on both sides, on the obverse with the motto “Trag' diese Wehr zu Sachsens Ehr!” (Bear this weapon for Saxony's honor!). On the reverse the dedication “Erinnerung an Mein 50jähriges Dienstjubiläum 1893. Albert” (Remembrance of My 50th Service Anniversary 1893. Albert), each in a cartouche. Below the dedication cartouche the crowned cipher of King Albert of Saxony “Krone AR”, on the opposite side the Saxon State coat of arms. On the false edge running around the quality mark “Eisenhauer Aecht Damast”. On the back the designation of the supplier or sword cutler “L. A. Seyffarth, Hofgürtler Dresden”. The blade and original gilding well preserved.
The massive hilt of fire-gilt brass, pierced work and partly polished. The grip back in the form of a winged dragon, the dragon's head worked as a pommel, receiving the knuckle guard in its mouth, on the back of the grip cap again the sovereign cipher of King Albert of Saxony “Krone AR”, the dragon's tail screwed to the guard. The guard decorated with floral patterns and palmettes, on the front with large raised Saxon coat of arms, on the obverse held by a lion, with the motto ribbon “Providentiae Memor”, the crown separately riveted, on the obverse side of the guard with the name of the recipient “Gottlob Freiherr von Hodenberg”. The grip with shagreen and intact wire wrap. Nickel-plated steel scabbard with one ring mount and movable carrying ring. Lightly carried with very slight carrying and age marks, in very fine original condition, condition grade 2.
Overall length 106.5 cm.
This is certainly the rarest edged weapon of the Saxon military. Extremely rare, in over 35 years of business this is only the 2nd example we have been able to offer.
Georg Friedrich Gottlob Bodo Freiherr von Hodenberg (born October 11, 1838 in Harburg; died April 1, 1903 in Leipzig) was a Royal Saxon General of Infantry. As a native of Harburg, then Kingdom of Hanover, he received his education in the Hanoverian Cadet Corps. From there he came in 1856 as Portepeefähnrich to the Artillery Brigade. In November 1856 he was transferred as a Lieutenant to the 3rd Artillery Battalion and there promoted to First Lieutenant in 1859. Subsequently he was transferred in 1861 as General Staff Officer 2nd Class to the General Staff in Hanover. In 1866 he was then appointed General Staff Officer 1st Class.
During the German War of 1866 he came to the General Staff of the Commanding General of the Hanoverian Army and fought as such in the Battle of Langensalza. After the Pyrrhic victory and defeat, the Kingdom of Hanover was annexed by Prussia and the army dissolved. Many officers entered Prussian service, but Hodenberg transferred to the Saxon Army. In 1867 he came there as a Captain and Company Commander to the 2nd Grenadier Regiment No. 102, but already in 1868 he was brought into the tactical section of the Saxon General Staff. During the Franco-Prussian War he came as a General Staff Officer to the Saxon General Staff. He fought in all battles of the Saxon Army Corps and received the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class for it. After the war he was brought in 1871 to the Prussian General Staff to work on the creation of the General Staff work undertaken by the military history section. In doing so, he had the task of describing the participation of the Saxon troops. During this time he was promoted to Major in 1873, then returned to Dresden in 1875. After his return he became General Staff Officer of the 1st Infantry Division, in 1878 he came as such to the General Command. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, he received in 1879 command of the I. Battalion of the 1st (Leib-)Grenadier Regiment No. 100 and there in 1882 the patent as Colonel. In 1883 he came as Commander to the 2nd Grenadier Regiment No. 101 and in 1887 as Commander to the 6th Infantry Brigade No. 64. There he was appointed Major General in 1888 and in 1890 General à la suite of King Albert of Saxony. In 1892 he was promoted to Lieutenant General and simultaneously appointed active General Adjutant to the King. In 1893 he came to the head of the 2nd Division No. 24, received his promotion to General of Infantry on September 12, 1896 and three days later permission to accept the Red Eagle Order 1st Class. Upon approval of his resignation request, Hodenberg was placed on disposition on April 2, 1897 with pension and permission to wear his uniform.
The massive hilt of fire-gilt brass, pierced work and partly polished. The grip back in the form of a winged dragon, the dragon's head worked as a pommel, receiving the knuckle guard in its mouth, on the back of the grip cap again the sovereign cipher of King Albert of Saxony “Krone AR”, the dragon's tail screwed to the guard. The guard decorated with floral patterns and palmettes, on the front with large raised Saxon coat of arms, on the obverse held by a lion, with the motto ribbon “Providentiae Memor”, the crown separately riveted, on the obverse side of the guard with the name of the recipient “Gottlob Freiherr von Hodenberg”. The grip with shagreen and intact wire wrap. Nickel-plated steel scabbard with one ring mount and movable carrying ring. Lightly carried with very slight carrying and age marks, in very fine original condition, condition grade 2.
Overall length 106.5 cm.
This is certainly the rarest edged weapon of the Saxon military. Extremely rare, in over 35 years of business this is only the 2nd example we have been able to offer.
Georg Friedrich Gottlob Bodo Freiherr von Hodenberg (born October 11, 1838 in Harburg; died April 1, 1903 in Leipzig) was a Royal Saxon General of Infantry. As a native of Harburg, then Kingdom of Hanover, he received his education in the Hanoverian Cadet Corps. From there he came in 1856 as Portepeefähnrich to the Artillery Brigade. In November 1856 he was transferred as a Lieutenant to the 3rd Artillery Battalion and there promoted to First Lieutenant in 1859. Subsequently he was transferred in 1861 as General Staff Officer 2nd Class to the General Staff in Hanover. In 1866 he was then appointed General Staff Officer 1st Class.
During the German War of 1866 he came to the General Staff of the Commanding General of the Hanoverian Army and fought as such in the Battle of Langensalza. After the Pyrrhic victory and defeat, the Kingdom of Hanover was annexed by Prussia and the army dissolved. Many officers entered Prussian service, but Hodenberg transferred to the Saxon Army. In 1867 he came there as a Captain and Company Commander to the 2nd Grenadier Regiment No. 102, but already in 1868 he was brought into the tactical section of the Saxon General Staff. During the Franco-Prussian War he came as a General Staff Officer to the Saxon General Staff. He fought in all battles of the Saxon Army Corps and received the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class for it. After the war he was brought in 1871 to the Prussian General Staff to work on the creation of the General Staff work undertaken by the military history section. In doing so, he had the task of describing the participation of the Saxon troops. During this time he was promoted to Major in 1873, then returned to Dresden in 1875. After his return he became General Staff Officer of the 1st Infantry Division, in 1878 he came as such to the General Command. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, he received in 1879 command of the I. Battalion of the 1st (Leib-)Grenadier Regiment No. 100 and there in 1882 the patent as Colonel. In 1883 he came as Commander to the 2nd Grenadier Regiment No. 101 and in 1887 as Commander to the 6th Infantry Brigade No. 64. There he was appointed Major General in 1888 and in 1890 General à la suite of King Albert of Saxony. In 1892 he was promoted to Lieutenant General and simultaneously appointed active General Adjutant to the King. In 1893 he came to the head of the 2nd Division No. 24, received his promotion to General of Infantry on September 12, 1896 and three days later permission to accept the Red Eagle Order 1st Class. Upon approval of his resignation request, Hodenberg was placed on disposition on April 2, 1897 with pension and permission to wear his uniform.
