Imperial Russia St.George'ish looking cross - What is it?

[Auseklis]

This cross was dug up some time ago by a friend. It shows some features, that look like a St.George, but otherwise... I would appreciate your opinion on this item. Please excuse the bad pictures, but that is all I got. Size is about 29,5mm.

[Rogi]

It might be one of the academy badges, they had some similar to the St. George. I'd try looking through some of them first.

I'll have a look and see if I can find anything.

[larsb001]

A friend once had a similar one that resembles this, that one was originally mounted on a name plate for a St George knight.in a graveyard. So, where was this dug up

[JapanX]

Most likely this is a miniature badge from St. George's Weapon "For Gallantry" .

The St. George's Weapon was an additional award associated with the Order of St. George.

An officer could be bestowed with a gold saber, inscribed "For Gallantry" and marked with a small enamel St. George cross and with the black and orange St. Geroge's ribbon for the sword knot. High ranking officers, such as generals or admirals could receive the St. George's Weapon with inset diamonds as an added distinction. The gold weapon was an independent award, not an extra class within the order, but holders of the golden weapon were considered holders of the order.

Some additional info can be found here

http://aarticles.net/culture-art-history/11413-za-kakie-otlichiya-v-rossii-nagrazhdali-oruzhiem.html

P.S. Can't vouch for authenticity of this piece though ...

[Auseklis]

That was also my first thought, but after flipping to the pages of Vol.2 of Shishkov, it seems to me, that ~30mm is very large for such a purpose?

[JapanX]

The only time Shishkov said something about dimensions of these badges is page 143.

Badge on this page has diameter 24 mm.

[Auseklis]

Yes, this is the Badge I also came up with. Maybe a late WW1 version of this badge?

But.. I noticed that on my pictures 1 and 4, that the cross seems to have remnants of a suspension ring or something (on the lower side of the picture). I will ask for a better picture of this area.

[JapanX]

The strangest thing is that this cross has only one wire for fastening...

Usually it is two or four or screw or screw + two wires...

[Auseklis]

So, where was this dug up

I asked. The item was found on a field in central Brandenburg (near Berlin).

[Auseklis]

The finder provided more pictures from the backside of the item. To me it looks like a broken suspension ring + a missing screw?

I asked him about his oppinion on the metal type of the item. He answered that the item showed no cupric acetate when he found it. The ring bolted around the medaillon is gold by his oppinion.

[Rogi]

It does indeed look like its broken off, but what could it be

[JapanX]

It could be something that we all should avoid