Circa 1890
Measurements: 23mm x 14mm
Gold. The personal gift of the Prince Frederick (afterwards Emperor Frederick III of Germany) and Crown Princess Victoria (formerly The Princess Royal of Great Britain) in the form of their conjoined stylised initials ‘F’ & ‘V’ in gold set with diamonds and sapphires, the whole beneath the Imperial German Crown. Cased.
Carl Alexander August Johann (1818-1901) was the Grand Duke and ruler of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach from 1853 until his death. Born in Weimar, he was the second son of Karl Frederick, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia. When young he befriended the Danish author and poet Hans Christian Andersen who was reportedly infatuated with him. Carl Alexander renovated Wartburg Castle, and left his mark in many places in Eisenach. He continued the work of his father as the protector of Richard Wagner and Franz Liszt. He was the sponsor of the monument for Goethe and Schiller, and in 1860, founded the Weimar Saxon-Grand Ducal Art School. As Grand Duke he was automatically rector, president of Jena University. He was succeeded as Grand Duke by his grandson Wilhelm Ernst in 1901.