Ottilie von Faber

"Tilly's" father Wilhelm von Faber died of a heart attack at the age of 42. This destroys Lothar's hope to hand over his life's work to a male offspring.

When Lothar von Faber died in 1896, the company A.W.Faber passed to his widow Baroness Ottilie. The previous organisation of the business is to be retained at Lothar's will, "because I have the firm conviction that these employees, who ... have got to know the principles I represent in detail, will continue to use them for the benefit of the overall business in the future".

Ottilie, still a minor at almost 19 years of age, becomes the oldest granddaughter of Lothar and the owner of the extensive property established in a family foundation.

To the great delight of Ottilie von Faber, her granddaughter Tilly married Alexander Graf zu Castell-Rüdenhausen (1866-1928) in 1898: "The first joyful event in many years, a ray of light in the life of the Faber family".

Lothar von Faber had decreed at the time that the name "Faber" had to be retained in any case when the company heiress was married. This is why the new family name Graf und Gräfin von Faber-Castell was created when Freiin Ottilie married Alexander Graf zu Castell-Rüdenhausen. Full of anticipation, Tilly, "with great enthusiasm, designs a sketch for her new coat of arms". 

Lothar's widow Ottilie is relieved to have found in Count Alexander the one "who accepts the responsibility with whom one can consult for the good of the whole, hand in hand, as it would have become so easy with my son". She took him on as a partner in the company in 1900 and left the management to him. After her death in 1903, her granddaughter Countess Ottilie "Tilly" inherited the company. As a partner, Alexander continues to hold the position of managing director.

The First World War of 1914-1918 brought about profound social and political changes. The world order, which in Germany in particular was still dominated by a noble elite, collapses. An initial enthusiasm for war soon turns into disillusionment. 

When the war broke out, Count Alexander had to move to Belgium. To Ottilie's regret, he rarely has the opportunity to visit his family in Stein. The long separations put a strain on the relationship. The couple are alienated because they live in different worlds: "I have noticed for a year now that our mutual feelings are no longer the same". 

When Ottilie  falls in love with Philipp Freiherr von Brand zu Neidstein, she asks Alexander to separate: "Dear Alexander! Today I come to you with a great request: "Give me my freedom". 
Alexander finally agrees to the divorce and a new life begins for Ottilie. She moves out of Schloss Stein, leaves the company to Count Alexander and transfers the family foundation to her son Roland. She herself receives an annual life annuity from the family assets. 
In 1918, two years after the separation, she marries Philipp von Brand, who is now also divorced, and lives with him at his castle Neidstein near Etzelwang in the Oberpfalz. 

Count Alexander is now the sole owner of the company. He married Margit Gräfin von Zedtwitz in 1920 and his son Radulf (+2004) was born in 1922. One year before his death, Count Alexander takes on his birth name Count zu Castell-Rüdenhausen again. He dies in 1928 at the age of 62. He does not find his last resting place in the family tomb in Stein, but on his estate on the Schwanberg near Castell.