Pre-WWI Saxon commemorative frame with portrait

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c. 1895

Overview

Decorative timber frame containing a textile background covered with writing, plastic motifs and decorative features.
In the lower section, there is a portrait of the last King of Saxony (Frederick Augustus III) on the left and a portrait of the last German Emperor and King of Prussia (Kaiser Wilhelm II) on the right. They are shown with wreaths of leaves and flowers underneath them.
Between them is a photograph of a pre-1897 Saxon Infantryman. He is placed within a sentry box with a red roof and faded green and white stripes on each side wall. Below him are the flags of Saxony and Germany.
Above the sentry box is a small grey piece of material (possibly a shoulder title) reading 'T 7'.

Historical information

This frame and its contents have been the subject of conjecture. The main issue is that the soldier photographed and everything else in the frame relate to a time period pre-WWI. The soldier has been identified as a Saxon Infantryman from pre-1897 based on his uniform.
However, the grey fabric 'T 7' shoulder title is a reference to Saxon Telegraphen-Bataillon 7, which was only formed in 1913 (prior to that there was a Saxon company in Prussian Telegraphen-Bataillon 1).
It is possible that the soldier was later in TB 7 (during WW1?) due to having developed the appropriate technical skills in civilian life. TB 7 was the parent unit of *all* Saxon telephone and radio units in the war, and they all wore "T7" shoulderstraps up until 1917 (at which point "T12" and "T19" came in).
If the soldier served in WWI and was proud of that service, he may have placed the extra piece into the frame.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00012

Item type

Themes

Material