The image of two knights jousting with pencils-for-lances is a familiar one for anyone acquainted with A.W. Faber-Castell’s products. It was introduced in the early 1900s by Count Alexander zu Castell-Rüdenhausen who had recently become head of the company:
At first glance then, the following photograph from ca. 1915 looks as though it might be from behind-the-scenes so to speak; models who might have posed for an artist to render the scene:
Instead, it is a photograph of German Uhlans—members of light cavalry forces armed with lances and sabres—with the A.W. Faber factory in Stein in the background. They were crossing the Rednitz river on their way to the front during the First World War. These buildings are now referred to as the Old Lead Factory and as you can see compared with this modern photograph, “Castell” had yet to be added to the façade:
Contrapuntalism 