Jump to content
News Ticker
  • I am now accepting the following payment methods: Card Payments, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal
  • Latest News

    Imperial Russian Orders for sale!


    Christophe

    Recommended Posts

    I have a couple of basic questions for our Members living in Russia or often travelling there.

    In many shops (specifically in Moscow, but maybe not only there...) you can find repros of Imperial Russia's Orders and Medals.

    These are sold as new, no doubt about this, and are not destined to fool anyone.

    They are made in what I would call semi-precious materials...

    My questions :

    1. Why to manufacture such copies ?

    2. Where and by whom are they manufactured ?

    3. In your opinion, who buys them ? And for what reason ?

    4. Are they only "souvenirs" for foreigners (some museum shops sell them...) ?

    I would be interested in knowing more about these...

    Cheers.

    Ch.

    Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    • 1 month later...

    Some of the medals are very good but the orders, ie anything with enamel, would never fool a collector who had ever come close to an original. They are made from cheap plated metal, cold enamel and paste stones and look more like costume jewels in terms of quality. They are for the tourist trade so I do not think we need to get worried about them being passed off as genuine, the quality just is not there.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Hi Christophe

    I suspect a lot of those items you have displayed for us to view are simply to :speechless1: fool collectors and it works. There are some very high quality copies not just in the higher grades but the lower classes as well all in GOLD which are not pictured. The ones pictured do not seem to be a threat to advanced collectors but for one who is just starting out can be. I must say some of those copies look good especially the lower ranking orders from the picture that is. Unfortunately with the high prices on Russian items these days it pays for the forgers to go into this line of business. Hallmarks mean nothing for they fake that too, thanks for sharing those fotos.

    Sincerely

    Yankee

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    These awards can't fool anyone, specifically for the big breast stars and plaques, and the medal as well...

    For the lower classes orders, some are really nicely made.

    But, they are sold here as copies or repro, and if you take them in hand, no mistery about them. The real concern might be, as we said, when they are sold via internet... :rolleyes:

    Cheers.

    Ch.

    Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

    Edited by Christophe
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    • 11 years later...

    This debate brings me to a few interesting question:

    1. How does serious collectors feel about these copies?

    2. Is it wrong to either buy or sell such a copy if both the buyer and seller knows and acknowledge the fact that the item in question is a copy and therefor have zero historical significance?

    I hope I didn't stir up a hornets nest with these questions. I'm just curious to hear what people think. 

     

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    I once bought a very nicely made copy of a mid 1900s Alexander Nevsky that was clearly a copy because I knew I'd probably never have discretionary funds of a real one. That's an example. I keep any copies I have of enameled orders in a separate case and place than actual ones are kept (in a remote vault). It makes me happy and theft is a nonissue. One also sometimes buys better made copies for study purposes and education. It is the FALSE presentation that irks so many of us, of course...

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    On 29/03/2019 at 13:40, Wessel Gordon said:

    1. How does serious collectors feel about these copies?

    2. Is it wrong to either buy or sell such a copy if both the buyer and seller knows and acknowledge the fact that the item in question is a copy and therefor have zero historical significance?

    1. Doesn't bother me.  Could be a place-holder or part of a display.  Heck, even Cosplay or whatever the kids are doing these days.

    2.  Not wrong at all if both are aware.

    Both are my opinion.

     

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    This has been going on for some time. In 1979 I spoke at an international symposium in Warsaw and later visited a shop where around 30 women were hand painting copies of Russian and Polish orders and regimental insignia. I was told that they were for the collector market.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Create an account or sign in to comment

    You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create an account

    Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

    Register a new account

    Sign in

    Already have an account? Sign in here.

    Sign In Now
    ×
    ×
    • Create New...

    Important Information

    We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.