Jakob Seerup

Can anyone helt me with more information about this unit?

The ranks differ from the painting compared with the photograph. What can be said about the rank?

65-.jpg

ff65-.jpg

I get the orders. But what are the medals? I have never seen this photo of "my" Levkowitch before. Do you have a date?

After graduating from Corps of Pages in 1894 - second lieutenant in the 7th horse field artillery battery.

Later transferred to the Guards Horse-Artillery Brigade (08.08.1898).

In 1901, he graduated from the Nicholas General Staff Academy (by 1st category).

In the 1902-1905 years was the chief officer for special assignments at the headquarters of the 1st Army Corps.

Commanded a squadron in the Life Guards Cuirassier Her Majesty's Regiment (1903-1904) (!!!)

Participant of the Russian-Japanese War. Wounded.

He served as a staff officer for special assignments at the headquarters of the 1st Army Corps (1905-1906), staff officer for assignments at the headquarters of the Guard troops and the St. Petersburg Military District (1906). From December 1906 to November 1908 was at the disposal of the Chief of General Staff.

Ranks

Guards Lieutenant (1898)

Guards Captain with the renaming of the captains of the General Staff (1901)

Lieutenant Colonel (1904 )

Colonel (1907)

Major-General (1917)

THANK YOU SO MUCH for this information! I am currently researching the Levkowitch collection, and I am very much handicapped by the fact that I don't read Russian. Where do you look up this information regarding promotions and awards, etc.? I need to state som kind of reference.

All the best

Jakob

This is a portrait of Russian General Paul Goudime-Levkowitch painted in 1953 (the year that he died). It is painted by Preben Kannik, who later went on to publish an illustrated book about the uniforms of the world.

The Arsenal Museum (Tøjhusmuseet) in Copenhagen has the uniform in its collections. The entire Levkowitch collection consists of c. 75 more or less complete uniforms and a large collection of epaulettes and various other items.

Levkowitch's medals seem either to have been split up as specimens or not collected at all. In order to recreate the original medal configuration I need to identify the medals on this painting which is the only source I have.

I also need help identifying the dragoon regiment that his headgear belongs to. I wonder why he is portayed wearing this? To my knowldege he belonged to the Horse Guard Artillery. Any suggestions?

These are pictures of the Order of St. Andrew the First Called which was stolen from the Danish Arsenal Museum (Tøjhusmuseet) in January 2005. There wasn't much information about it in the first place, But if anybody can see any details that might help us trace it - and indeed if anyone has actually seen it around - I would be very happy for any information.

The robbers only went for this one order and left everything else untouched. In and out of the building in three minutes. Security has been significantly beefed up since then!

I am currently in contact with the owner, and I don't have his permission - just needed to identify the orders and medals. It won't likely come up for sale, but I will share photos when I have had a personal look at it sometime in November. I don't think there are many complete uniforms around with perfect provenance and unspoiled orders and medals. How often do such uniforms appear, you think?

Thanks! That sounds very probable. The recipient had been personal teacher of military tactics to Nicholas II, and their personal relation seems to have been quite friendly. It is absolutely possible that he had some role in the coronation. Sorry about the quality of the picture. I hope to get to see the original soon.

Same uniform as yesterday. I forgot to include a picture of this emblem - the one to the right. Might it be from a military academy or something similar?

Thank you so much! Yes, I have a positive ID, and there are a couple of orders more that aren't in the picture - mounted on the original uniform. The recipient was a general staff officer who died in 1902.

Does anyone have information regarding a privately owned museum in Cannes, France run by exiled Russian General Paul Goudime-Levkowitch?

The collection (or parts of it?) was transferred to the Arsenal Museum (Tøjhusmuseet) in Copenhagen, Denmark, during World War 2. Parts of it is now on exhibit in the new galleries at the museum. We at the museum would very much like further information about the group of exiled Russian officers in Cannes who gathered these items. We have photographs of some of them posing in their imperial uniforms in France as late as the 1930's.

Best regards

Jakob Seerup

Thanks Claudio and Saschaw

It is indeed made by Godet, it has a nice makers mark on the reverse.

Thanks for the information concenrning the use. I did doubt if it was for the naval uniform, it didn't quite match the pictures, I could find.

The Royal Danish Arsenal Museum holds a GCVO which was awarded to a Danish General in 1908. The cross has number 272. This will give you an idea of the approximate date of other numbered insignia.

By the way, The Central Chancery at St. James's Palace are quite reluctant to disclosing details of recipients - just to save you the trouble.

Best regards

Jakob Seerup

Hello Great Dane,

The medal bar will be on display in the coming new permanent gallery at Tøjhúsmuseet - which I am in charge of making . The new section on orders and medals will be quite a bit more ambitious than what used to be...

We don't know much about this bar. It was acquired from ”Kommissionen for Konfiskation af Tysk og japansk Ejendom” in 1946, and regrettably has no provenance. I am trying to find out what I can. It would appear that this particular mounting was only made for naval full dress uniforms, so that might be a clue. But I am only guessing. Any suggestions are very welcome!

Best regards

Jakob