Link only available on sub pages

This proud little soldier on a pedestal, brandishing a pusikan, or baton, looks as though he might be proclaiming a victory. Incidentally, if you look closely at the baton, you’ll see it contains a tiny clock. His uniform identifies him as a janissary – and there’s an intriguing reason why he’s dressed in this outlandish uniform.

The janissaries were the bodyguard of the Turkish sultan – an elite troop, founded in the fourteenth century. Like many of his contemporaries, August the Strong was deeply impressed by the power and splendour of the Ottoman empire, and from time to time he set up his own janissary battalions. None of them lasted very long – mainly because they were too expensive to maintain.

However, the janissaries played a prominent ceremonial role at the marriage of his son, Crown Prince Friedrich Augustus in 1719.

In June 1730, he staged spectacular manoeuvres with his janissaries about forty kilometres outside Dresden. There’s a picture of a janissary, and a formation sketch of the janissary corps which August the Strong drew himself. However, his janissaries never actually engaged in military combat. Their function was – in a word – purely decorative. A year later, August disbanded the janissary corps, but you can still see some of their splendid accoutrements in the Dresden Armoury.

This ivory statuette is beautifully detailed. Look at the tiny sabre and powder flask! The buttons on the uniform are coral and diamonds. The pedestal is made of rock crystal, chased with silver-gilt and decorated with gemstones. Just look at the quality of the carving and the jeweller’s craftsmanship!