20TH CENTURY, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARK WITH DOT, INCISED MODEL NO. 549X, IMPRESSED 141, PAINTER'S 62, AFTER THE MODEL BY J.J. KÄNDLER

After Freemasonary was suppressed by the Pope in 1738, Clemens August of Bavaria (1700-1761), Archbishop Elector of Cologne, founded an alternative pseudo-masonic order in Germany and Sweden to provide members with a legitimate substitute for masonic social rites. Augustus III, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony was the grand-master of the order in Saxony. It admitted women, was principally composed of Roman Catholics and was active between 1740 and 1782. The pug-dog, symbolizing the attributes of devotion and fidelity, was used as its emblem. It is interesting to note that the Director of the manufactory, Count Brühl, was particularly fond of pug-dogs.