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    Elmar Lang

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    Posts posted by Elmar Lang

    1. Well, I would prefer to talk about "tradition", instead of "low craftsmanship".

       

      The Iron Cross, was born to signify the soldiers' valour "In Eiserner Zeit" and its simple design had a strong meaning.

       

      Just iron in a thin silver frame, same as Great Britain's highest award for valour is a simple cross made of cast bronze... or the earliest, US Medal of Honor: a five-pointed star struck in bronze... or Belgium's and France's "Croix de Guerre", also made of bronze, etc.

       

    2. Here, the links to the group of pieces belonged to FM v. Mackensen, put for sale at Künker's in October 2019:

       

      Eisernes Kreuz, Ausgabe 1914. Großkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, Original-Exemplar (!), 65,9 (mit Öse) x 61,1 mm, die hohen Zargenteile zwischen ca. 4,0 und 4,7 mm dick, die Öse 5,9 mm breit, sehr fein gearbeiteter, geschwärzter Eisenkern (kuenker.de)

       

      Orden pour le mérite. Alte Zweitanfertigung oder Nachfertigung des Ordenskreuzes in sog. "Godet-Ausführung" (mit Ösen-Segment zwischen den beiden Spitzen des oberen Kreuzarms) mit Eichenlaub, Anfertigung eines nicht identifizierten H (kuenker.de)

       

      Geschenk-Zigarettenetui Kaiser Wilhelms II. an Generalfeldmarschall von Mackensen. Anfertigung einer nicht identifizierten Firma aus dem Jahre 1916, 94,3 x 58,1 mm, Silber, tlw. feinst guillochiert, vergoldet und emailliert, belegt mit dem gekrö (kuenker.de)

       

      Geschenk-Bilderrahmen des österreichischen Kaisers Karl I. an Generalfeldmarschall von Mackensen, Anfertigung der Firma A. E. Köchert in Wien, Randmaße des Rahmens 262 x 184 mm, Rahmen Gold (über 583/000!), mit Monogramm Kaiser Karl I. (kuenker.de)

       

      Persönlicher Geschenk-Bilderrahmen Wilhelms II. aus dem Exil. Anfertigung der Firma J. D. Schleissner Söhne in Gründau wohl nach 1918, 292 x 215 mm, 800/000 Silber, ca. 480 g (nur der Rahmen - was einem Feingewicht von ca. 382 g Silber (kuenker.de)

       

      Persönlicher Geschenk-Bilderahmen Herzogin Viktoria Luises von Braunschweig. Anfertigung der Firma F. Siebrecht in Braunschweig aus dem Jahre 1929, 290 x 202 mm, 800/000 Silber, auf dem oberen Rand bekröntes Monogramm "VL", Gold, besetzt mi (kuenker.de)

       

      Streichholz-Etui. Anfertigung eines nicht identifizierten Herstellers, 60,8 x 53,8 mm, Silber, tlw. guillochiert und emailliert, 54,6 g, min. Emaille-Chips am Rand, im Deckel Widmungsgravur "Z. frdl. Erg. / an / das Streichholz-Exercieren 1913". (kuenker.de)

       

      Zigarettenetui. Anfertigung eines nicht identifizierten Herstellers, 65,0 x 94,6 mm, Silber, auf dem Deckel nicht identifizierte blau emaillierte Unterschrift und ein à jour gefasster Rubin in Altschliff, 131,0 g, Ausbrüche in der Emaille (kuenker.de)

       

      Osmanisches Reich: Silberring. Silber, Innendurchmesser 22,2 mm, 5,0 g, mit osmanischer Inschrift, die möglicherweise "Djihad der nationalen Verteidigung" bedeutet, mit der Jahreszahl "1331" [AD 1913], im goldfarben bedruckten roten Samtetui. (kuenker.de)

       

      Osmanisches Reich: Goldmünze Mehmed V. 100 Kuruş (Piastre) 1327/3 "Besuch im Kosovo". Durchmesser 22,4 mm, 917/000 Gold, 7,2 g, in vorzüglicher Erhaltung (vz), zusammen mit Übersendungsschreiben von Reşad Omer Bey, des ehemaligen B&uum (kuenker.de)

       

      Ovales Serviertablett. Anfertigung der Firma M. H. Wilkens & Söhne in Hemerlingen, 353 x 454 mm, 830/000 Silber, 1.022 g (somit ein Feingewicht von ca. 2.128 g), auf dem Rand des Avers das Monogramm "M" mit zwei gekreuzten Marschallstäb (kuenker.de)

       

      Herrschaftliche Tafelbesteck-Garnitur, bestehend aus insgesamt 298 Einzelteilen: Bei den folgenden Teilen handelt es sich um ein nicht identifiziertes Modell in Anfertigungen der Firma Gebr. Friedländer in Berlin, zwischen 1910 und 1937, in 800/ (kuenker.de)

       

      Ca. 20 Restteile einer Tafelbesteck-Garnitur des Modells "Augsburger Faden". Anfertigung einer nicht identifizierten Firma, in 800/000 Silber, jeweils punziert "800 Mond Krone", bestehend aus: einer Tafelgabel (65 g), sechs Dessertgabeln (je 43 g), z (kuenker.de)

       

      18-teiliges Fischbesteck. Bestehend aus 18 Fischmessern (51 g pro Stück) und 18 Fischgabeln (43 g pro Stück), Anfertigung der Firma W. Ambach in Stettin. Alle Teile zeigen auf der Oberseite der Griffe jeweils einen gravierten gekrönten (kuenker.de)

       

      Ovale Vorlegeplatte. Anfertigung der Firma Wilhelm Binder in Schwäbisch Gmünd, 350 x 513 mm, 835/000 Silber, 1040 g (somit ein Feingewicht von ca. 868 g), auf dem Rand des Avers das Monogramm "M" mit zwei gekreuzten Marschallstäben, &u (kuenker.de)

       

      ...and more silverware, memorabilia and varia, from the property formerly of FM August v. Mackensen

    3. The piece was consigned to the auction house (Künker) directly from heirs of von Mackensen.

       

      It's true too, that a man like v. Mackensen, had more than one set of each of his orders/awards, from the most "Probemäßige" quality, to visibly "private purchase" type ones.

       

      I was in the room on the auction's day, though. Interesting auction, like all sales of Künker, dealing with Orders and Decorations.

    4. Hello,

       

      as stated in the other place where you've posted the pictures of this Silbernes Verdienstkreuz mit der Krone, I don't see anything alarming with it.

       

      It is not a rare award, but yes, there are fakes of it too, ranging from a poor to a disgusting quality. Not the case of this one, that has all the qualities to be a piece made prior to 1918.

       

      Best wishes,

       

      E.L.

    5. Hello,

      today in the mailbox at home, arrived my copy of the book; I am extremely happy and it will be the reading for this evening.

       

      Beautiful illustrations within the most interesting text too, depicting objects and documents surely unknown to most collectors and enthusiasts.

       

      Being printed in 1.000 copies only, I think it will become a bibliographical rarity...

       

      All the best wishes to the Author, in the hope that this volume would be the first of a series, devoted to the story of Madagascar's honour system!

       

      Enzo (E.L.)

    6. Just noticed this discussion, and immediately purchased the book on ebay.

       

      A fascinating field and I am glad that this book will fill a gap in my library; I can't wait to read it!

       

      This is my only old piece from Madagascar, by the way...

       

      All the best,

       

      Enzo (E.L.)

      Madagascar Avers.jpg

      Madagascar Revers.jpg

    7. Hello,

      to contribute to this interesting thread, I would like to post a French-made star of Grand Cross, made by the french jeweler Peck-Olivier; a firm that worked between 1827 and 1837, when the activity was taken over by Justin Marret, who continued under his own name as "Marret, Fabricant d’ordres" the production, until 1844.

       

      The overall quality is extremely fine and accurate; the centre medallion is made of gold with chiseled details and the enamel-work is truly beautiful.

       

       

       

       

      Carlo III Avers.jpg

      Carlo III Revers.jpg

    8. Hello again,

       

      my words are not a criticism to anyone, but I would like to remember that before leaving bids on any auctioned piece, even from the most reputed seller, a prospective buyer should carefully check the catalogue description and, if not possible to personally inspect a piece, carefully studying the provided pictures.

       

      I think that the images attached to this discussion, are those provided by the auctioneer: well, those were clear enough to say a definite "keep out!". I don't like to be crude or sharp, but the images of the marks first, are a "we're not struck!" warning, as clearly pointed out by Christian and me in the posts above.

       

      The centre medallion: no piece made by Mayer's Söhne, ever had such a wrongly and badly made part!... the "VIRIBUS UNITIS" piece, is also very badly finished.

       

      Looking the star's reverse, immediately appears how bad the piercings are: even a realtively recent copy of Rothe, usually is excellently carried out in its details, even in the abovementioned star's piercings.

       

      Besides the experience a collector could or should have matured in the course of time and the good resources available on the Internet, I would like to remember the very fine recent volumes of Ortner-Ludwigstorff, that besides the invaluable text, are rich of excellent pictures where to see as-they-should-be pieces. They're relatively expensive, but worth any of the Euro spent to purchase them.

       

      I repeat: please, let's sit down and think, before bidding on something outside our at least basic knowledge.

       

      As a matter of interest, I would like to post some details from a breast star of the Order of Leopold, a copy made by Rothe & Neffe, Vienna, dating from the '60s of the 20th Century: it is exactly the piece published in V. Měřička: "Orden und Ehrenzeichen der Oesterreichisch-Ungarischen Monarchie", Vienna, Schroll, 1974, plate XXV (as a personal note, this piece was given to me by the late Prof. Fattovich as a kind present for my 20th birthday). As we can see, besides the overall accurate manufacture, the piercings to the rays, are most accurately and precisely done... even on -I repeat- a copy.

       

      Where a fake, produced only to deceive a collector, fails in every respect: quality, workmanship, finish.

       

      All the best,

       

      Enzo (E.L.)

       

       

      Leopold Stern-1.jpg

      Leopold Stern-2.jpg

    9. Hello,

       

      just to add something to this thread again, I would like to share the images of another group belonging to my collection, awarded to the French Lt. Colonel Christian Welter.

       

      His Legion of Honour has the crown stuffed with bright red silk cloth, that I am pretty sure it dates back to the time of wear.

       

      The Crimean Campaign Medal is unnamed, the 1859 Italian Campaign Medal is without crown and the Sardinian "Al Valore" medal, is nicely named.

       

      I have purchased the group in 2012 at an auction in Austria; it comes from an old, now dissolved, US collection.

      Welter-1.jpg

      Welter-2.jpg

      Welter-3.jpg

      Welter-4 Bio.jpg

    10. A nice medal indeed, with its award certificate, is something that makes the piece even more interesting.

       

      I'm wondering why the name on the paper was covered, while it is perfectly readable on the medal...

       

      Re. unnamed "Al Valore Militare" medals, they cannot be considered as wearer's copies, when they're with the marks of the Royal Mint. It happened in fact, that such medals, could have been awarded as unnamed; not necessarily, but most possibly, they can also be pieces awarded as "Sul Campo" (On the Field), or immediately after an action.

       

      Usually, for the "Sul Campo" awards, the soldier was told that he received a proper award, immediately after the action, where his act of valour was noticed and signalled so, he was allowed by his commanding officer (usually the regimental cdr.), to wear the ribbon, proper to the grade of the medal, then, at a ceremony in front of the troops, with some high ranking generals etc. the medal was pinned to the soldier's breast, reading out loud the "motivazione", or the brief account of the act of valour, as written on the award document.

       

      The wearer's copies of "Al Valore" medals are almost always of private production, made by otherwise well-known makers, like Johnson, Milan, etc.

       

      Re. Ferdinand Kotlik's medal, his award is reported in the "Bollettino Ufficiale": the fac-simile page is published in the "Nastro Azzurro" webpage, searching for the man's family name.

    11. Dear Glenn, 

       

      since nearly 20 years ago, when I first saw your invaluable webpage, I've found it as the best internet resource on the Austro-Hungarian Armed Forces and related topics. 

      You've been a pioneer in an area that now has many, many fans and collectors all over the world. 

       

      I feel kind of guilty for having visited your page very rarely in the later times, but always finding something precious for my own collection and/or researches. 

       

      The section about the Mexican campaign, for instance, is a fantastic synthesis of the subject, yet giving all those informations, to be found only consulting many rare to find books. 

      The same for all the other sections. 

       

      I agree with Sandro's words, if anything could be done to keep a piece of history alive. 

       

      Thank you Glenn,

       

      Best wishes, 

       

      Enzo (E. L.)

       

       

    12. I regret to inform that this piece is a well-known fake (not a copy, I mean, but a piece produced to deceive collectors), that sarted to appear in the early 2000s.

       

      It's a carefully-made cast, copying even the struck maker's and hallmarks, both to the star's corpus and the pin.

       

      The centre, also cast, can be found either with real enamel, or synthetic one. Typical "red alert", the roughly-made "FJ" to the centre medallion and the very inaccurate piercing to the star's rays.

       

      I hope you could have a money-back guarantee, because in my opinion -sorry to say- it is worth just the value of the metal used.

       

      All the best,

       

      E.L.

    13. Hello,

       

      I would like to participate to this interesting thread, posting some pictures of Soviet awards to foreigners.

       

      First, the Order "Friendship of Peoples", awarded to Valery Fischmann, DDR, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Society of German-Soviet Friendship. The piece is in its original case, with ribbon bar and a length of spare ribbon; then, a full-view of his group of awards (I fear that some further pieces and papers are now lost).

       

      I find rather curious the velvet presentation table, with badges of the German-Soviet society, along with the KGB and MfS badges; something that could allow us to suspect that Fischmann could have also been involved with Comrade Erich Mielke's Ministry...

      Fischmann-1.jpg

      Fischmann-2.jpg

      Fischmann-3.jpg

       

       

      Now, after the DDR group, the KGB 60th anniversary medal, awarded to the Bulgarian General Georgi Minev:

      Munev-1.jpg

      Munev-2.jpg

    14. On 12/11/2021 at 12:09, Alex K said:

      Purely for reference i found this image a long time ago, and is stated as belonging to August von Mackensen so i assume original awarded piece

      -mackensen GK.jpg

       

      Interesting information indeed.

       

      As a matter of interest, I purchased what looks like an identical 1914 Großkreuz at a German auction some years ago. It was offered as a relatively old copy that, from an attractive starting price of 100,- Euro, rose in the room up to a much higher, but still very reasonable hammer price.

       

      I haven't been able to take a picture with the same light of the supposed v. Mackensen's piece, but I can say that both are identical, besides the different signs of age.

       

      The centre is made of stove-enameled cast iron, the frame is made of silver (no marks), the loop is separately-made and soldered to the frame, the ribbon ring is also made of silver, then sewn to a piece of very old Grand Cross ribbon, folded for "display" reasons.

      EK-Großkreuz 1914.jpg

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