Imperial German Officer’s Portepee – Silver Bullion with Gilt Accents

This is a fine example of an Imperial German officer’s portepee (sword knot), a regulation dress accessory worn on officers’ swords to signify rank and branch of service. The portepee is constructed from silver bullion wire with intertwined gilt metallic thread accents, indicating issue for an officer rather than NCO or enlisted personnel.

The strap features a tightly woven flat bullion weave, leading to the stem and acorn (Kopf) formed from matching silver bullion with gilt thread interlace. The crown and insert are neatly executed, with the stem’s bullion braiding still tight and the gilt thread retaining its color. The knot ball is firm and well-shaped, showing only minor darkening from age.

Based on the silver-and-gilt color combination, this portepee would have been worn by officers of most Imperial German states during the pre–World War I and wartime periods, as it was the standard officer configuration across infantry, cavalry, and artillery branches. The design aligns with Prussian and other state officer models issued from the late 19th century through 1918.

Condition

The portepee remains in very good condition for its age, with bullion still intact, no unraveling, and gilt accents still visible. The strap shows mild darkening and light wear consistent with careful use. No fraying is present at the strap’s fold or along the knot’s seam, indicating it was likely removed from a sword long ago and preserved in storage rather than worn in the field.

Historical Context

The portepee served both a decorative and functional role—originally as a wrist loop to prevent sword loss in combat, but by the Imperial period, it had become a formal distinction of officer status. Each German state had slight variations in color for certain branches, but the silver-and-gilt pattern here was a universal indicator of officer rank.

This piece would have been worn on an officer’s Infanterie-Offiziersdegen (IOD 89), Kavallerie-Degen, or other state regulation dress sword.

Provenance

Acquired from a private Imperial German militaria collection in Germany and brought to the U.S. in the most recent shipment.