Original Imperial German WWI Saxon Garde Reiter Lion Crest for Officer’s Helmet - Outstandingly Scarce

Original Item. Only One Available. The Saxon Cavalry comprised two heavy regiments. The premier heavy unit was the Royal Saxon Garde Reiter 1st Schweres Regiment, first raised in 1680 and garrisoned at Dresden, Germany. In 1907, the regiment adopted the beautiful and imposing German Silver crouching lion helmet for gala and parade occasions. The helmet was worn through to the end of the First World War, and only very few of them were made. The helmets were the same shape and design as the Prussian Cuirassier helmet, but bore a Saxon silvered armorial star helmet plate, with gilded central arms and wreath.

This is an absolutely unprecedented and astonishing piece, a fully intact German Silver crouching lion, removed from one of these incredibly scarce helmets. This example is not only fully intact, but retains the butterfly nut and washer required to attach it to the helmet. This is the first and very likely the only example we will ever offer, and it is in great condition for its age with some heavy wear in the recesses as shown, with the German Silver having tarnished heavily. It does not sit flat on its own, but could easily be mounted for display.

The lion measures roughly 9 x 6 x 3½” and is in outstanding condition for its age and rarity. There is heavy wear as shown, but it will still display outstandingly, and if you are a lucky soul with a Saxon Garde Reiter helmet missing its lion, this is the opportunity you have been waiting likely several years for!

Comes ready to fit to your helmet or display on its own!

The 1st Royal Saxon Guards Heavy Cavalry (Garde-Reiter-Regiment (1. Schweres Regiment)) was a heavy cavalry of the Royal Saxon Army. Established in 1680 as a cuirassiers unit, the regiment fought in the Battle of Vienna (1683), the Nine Years' War, the War of the Spanish Succession, the Silesian Wars, the Napoleonic Wars, the Austro-Prussian War, the Franco-Prussian War and World War I. The regiment was disbanded in 1919.