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    Elmar Lang

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    Everything posted by Elmar Lang

    1. https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1468154/strolling-players-medallion-belonging-to-medallion-unknown/ Some further info...
    2. Hello, thanks to the pictures provided, I can say that your piece is a fine, late-war manufacture, 3rd Class badge of the Iron Crown with War Decoration and Swords ("Kriegsdekoration und Schwerter"). The piece is correctly put in a "Bergmann"-made case bearing Austria's coat-of-arms, embossed on the inner cushion, instead of the usual maker's logo. The piece itself has no maker's mark and cannot be attributed to any of the better known firms active in Vienna, like Rothe, Köchert, Rozet & Fischmeister or Mayer's Söhne. In this case, the "sharp" junction of the two halves of the lombardic crown, is not an alarm sign of a copy. Let's consider this piece, as a nice, 1918-made piece, belonged to a now unknown, brave officer. All the best, Enzo (E.L.)
    3. This thread about the badges for the judges of the Mixed Courts is extremely fascinating. Here, this intricate subject is excellently explored. The news about the "Zamalek Treasury" (my wife and I, spent 10 days at a small, but beautiful hotel in the heart of Zamalek, back in 2001, after she was ready after a period of work at the INA conservation laboratory in Alexandria, as a base for visits to museums, monuments and excavations) Thank you for the always interesting updates, Enzo (E.L.)
    4. Actually, this is not a telescope, but a rangefinder with a basis of 70,0 cm. as used to estimate distance with small calibre fileld artillery and machine-gun sections. Yes, it's made by Nedinsco, licensed by Carl Zeiss Jena in the production of such equipment. Germany exported any type of optics to China, from the early 20th Century, up to shortly before the 2nd World War. Carl Zeiss (through its branch Zeiss Ikon) very well exported their revolutionary, modern 35mm. rangefinder camera, the "Contax", in its versions I, II and III, now very well known in the collecting community for their engraving "For China", sometimes engraved in chinese characters too. Best wishes, Enzo
    5. Hello, both, very fine pieces, where the one with crown looks made of patinated iron, while the second one, made of patinated Kriegsmetall. Nice, original ribbons too. Best wishes, Enzo (E.L.)
    6. Hello, the Franz Josef Orden that started this thread, is a fine piece in gold, made by V. Mayer's Söhne, Vienna, at the end of 19th Century, up to 1914. The "war ribbon" with swords, indicates an award from 1916 onwards, where most decorations of this order were made in gilt bronze already, although exceptions were quite common. I can say, that the ribbon is also original and a fine one too. Re. the price: it can vary, depending on where it is sold, and who's the seller. I'd suggest to keep an eye on what's offered by European dealers and auction houses and decide accordingly. This means of course, all the necessary import fees. Another thing is what I call the "case frenzy", where as we read, a case influences a prospective price up to 1/3 of the overall value. Something I consider -permit me- just insane. Personally, I consider a case just a "plus" to a piece, where the piece itself -in my opinion- should have the "Hauptrolle", both historically and commercially. Best wishes, Enzo (E.L.)
    7. Hello, some time ago, I've had the opportunity to see a portrait of a Russian officer, painted by the artist Dobrovolsky, in the 19th Century. Interesting to see, besides other decorations referring to the Napoleonic Wars etc., he is wearing the Prussian Pour le Mérite. I'd be very grateful, if anyone could help me identifying that gentleman, since the owners have this portrait since ever, inherited from their ancestors and would be delighted if any further info could be found about it. All the best, Enzo (E.L.)
    8. Hello, this cross is a very fine piece and of fine manufacture, that sorry to say, suffered some major damage: the suspension broken away and so the Imperial crown on top of the double-eagle's head (of which, the pendalia are still present and well-visible, scrolling behind the two heads). I would like to add, that the eagle always rests on a disc (usually, very well polished too). All the best, Enzo (E.L.)
    9. When started collecting, i was 13 years old then, my father (a collector himself, but in a different field), advised me to keep a written, chronological register of anything entering in my own collection. In other words, a sort of an "entry-book" not much different from what Howard Carter held, entering each finding from King Tutankhamen's tomb. Now, 51 years later, i have a large cardboard box, full of many different booklets, with a short description, date of purchase, price, provenance, and, when necessary, personal notes on each piece. I feel myself lucky, because although being not a boy anymore, still I can remember everything about my pieces. But I need to say that reading those old entry-books is a pleasant thing, taking my memory back to the circumstances where a piece became mine, or simply remembering and refreshing the memory about the people and fellow collectors I met in the course of time. Around 1977, my father presented to me a book, work of Prof. Vaclav Měřička, ("The Book of Orders and Decolations", London, Hamlyn), where the author -an immense collector himself- provided a layout of his own cataloguing cards. Extremely useful too. Collecting, to me is not just putting pieces together, knowing the whys and wherefores about their institution and award criteria, but also the pleasure (and disappointments) in increasing my collection; remembering the persons I met, the travels and... adventures that also a quiet collector can live. My wife, very skilled in the use of computers, in 2005 created a programme, that practically was an enlarged version of Prof. Měřička's cards (added with pictures), but still, I stick to my useful, old system of "entry books", while my wife is pleased to register the "core" of my collection only.
    10. It depends on the award. I'd dare to say just the average cost of buying an original one. Besides that, I wouldn't mind finding a Maria Theresa Order without ribbon... Now, it seems that the big problem with austrian awards is when the case is missing. It's not a joke, but a while ago, a collector asked me to see my Maria Theresia Orders and, looking at a napoleonic Knight's Cross, his words were only "nice piece, pity that's without case"...
    11. It is an officer's belt buckle as used during the reign of emperor Karl (issued in the 1917-'18 period), in excavated condition. Do you have any idea where it was found? Best, Enzo (E.L.)
    12. Fine, original pieces, the piece to the left complete with surely original ribbon too. The different suspension loops indicate two different manufacturers. Best wishes, Enzo (E.L.)
    13. best wishes for the arrival of your piece then!
    14. Well, a "fake" is properly a piece made to deceive a collector. Those made post-WW1 by Messrs Rothe & Neffe of Vienna (once official makers of Orders and Decorations to the Habsburg Crown), were copies made for collectors, which production discontinued in the mid-'70s. They were made with the original dies and tools and often, they are very well made. In any case, a post-1918 piece, although if made by the original maker, is not to be considered as an original, but as a copy (and its price, according to that). If a copy made by Rothe is sold as being an original (and the seller knows the truth)... well, in that case we can consider it as a fake... Waiting for further images, all the best, E.L.
    15. From what I can see in the picture, the laurel wreath of the Kriegsdekoration looks like being of the postwar type, for it is not enameled to the reverse and without any engraving under the translucent, green enamel to the wreath's obverse. The pictures don't help much to understand a further detail: are the two halves forming the lombardic crown with a sharp edge where they're soldered at left and right, or are they smoothly rounded? From what I can see, I fear an early reproduction made by Messrs. Rothe & Neffe, Vienna, or an upgraded WW1 piece, by adding a later made Kriegsdekoration. Best wishes, Enzo (E.L.)
    16. I think that many of us in this room are curious and impatient to see any image of the mentioned Order of the Iron Crown... All the best, Enzo (E.L.)
    17. Hello, a "commemorative in nature" medal, can be an official, state award, when instituted by the state itself, or by it recognized and/or appointed. Then, there are unofficial medals, instituted by committees, associations, private citizens, etc. In the 1st Austrian Republic, there was no connection between the state and the Habsburg family. If I correctly remember, it was created and distributed by a group of monarchists and widely sold around as a fundraising piece, thus being a fully, unofficial medal. It should have been catalogued in both the editions (1vol. and 4vols. ones) of R. Frhr. v. Prochàzka's "Oesterreichisches Ordenshandbuch", where probably more info are given. All the best, Enzo (E.L.) P.S.: I think that buying some of the books devoted on the subject of AH awards, including the most recent, monumental work of Rest/Ludwigstorff, could always be an excellent investment.
    18. A well-known, unofficial commemorative medal. Quite finely designed, I might add. Best wishes, Enzo (E.L.)
    19. Hello, just as a matter of precision, this decoration is not a "medal", but a "cross", being its name "Jubiläums-Hofkreuz". Said that, I congratulate for the nice piece found, that takes its place in your collection. I would also like to continue this thread, by adding the similar piece, from my own collection, complete with its original case of issue. Best wishes, Enzo (E.L.)
    20. Hello, I think that a first step could be doing a research in the database of the London Gazette: The Gazette | Official Public Record . There, I've been successful in finding names, awards and data of soldiers even back to the Napoleonic wars! All the best, Enzo (E.L.)
    21. Nice, wartime cross! Is the ring marked by Kunz, Wien or Bachruch, Budapest? All the best, Enzo (E.L.)
    22. Hello, a fine medal, the one you're showing! Another one for the same fact, awarded and named to a Portuguese subject, was auctioned online, some time time ago: Great Britain - Sea Gallantry Medal (Foreign Services) 1858 - Catawiki To go deeper in your research, I think you could contact the Life Saving Awards Research Society (LSARS); the webpage is: Life Saving Awards Research Society (LSARS). Research into humanitarian awards . Nearly a decade ago, the researches and back numbers of their precious Journal, have been invaluable to me while compiling an auction catalogue's section, devoted to the Lifesaving Medals. All the best, Enzo (E.L.)
    23. These are the Vienna "A" marks for precious metal; then, the trefoil mark of messrs. "Brüder Schneider", Vienna, and their signature mark. A full, obverse/reverse picture of the piece would be most welcome...
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