Peter Cornwell

Tracy,

So you are well and truly bitten now by the Imperial EK collecting bug ? It's good to note that you are doing all the necessary reading & research and that your acquisitions are via reputable outlets. That in itself, plus the wealth of experience you will find on this forum, should help you avoid most of the errors & disappointments that every collector will inevitably experience at one time or another. As for your most recent purchase, I can only too well appreciate your anxiety to acquire something that you really wanted to compliment your collection, but patience is also a virtue to a collector and in this case I would personally have waited for a crisper example to come to market. I don't like the overall finish but, that said, I see no particular reason to doubt it's authenticity. I am no expert, far from it, so my opinion is purely subjective but others here will, I'm sure, provide you with far better informed opinions on your latest acquisition. Meantime, very good luck to you & congratulations     

Agreed. My simple rule of thumb when viewing an EK is to ask myself, 'Is this really the product of an Imperial Court jeweller's workshop or is it more like a fitting found on the footplate of a steam engine'? This usually sorts out the more obvious fakes but no doubt I can still get stung. I haven't found a decent Imperial EK to interest me since last November.       

I would pass on that one if I were you.

Tracy,

Spotted this on offer and thought you might be interested ?

https://www.catawiki.com/en/l/79383691-wernitz-frank-das-eiserne-kreuz-1813-1870-1914-geschichte-und-bedeutung-einer-auszeichnung-hardcover-2013

As I am only interested in Imperial crosses I ditched my copy of Williamson some time ago and now rely almost exclusively on Bowen's The Prussian and German Iron Cross (1986), Heyde's Preussen-Sammlung Max Aurich (1980), and Wernitz & Simon's Das Eiserne Kreuz 1813 - 1870 - 1914 (2 vols 2013). I would recommend all three.

Congratulations on acquiring what to my mind is a nice example of what you have coveted for so long. It has a story to tell - I like it a lot. Minefield ? Yes of course, but we all learn to tread most carefully and keep ourselves well-informed through reading reliable reference works and consulting forums such as this. Good hunting in future.

That looks OK to me though somewhat frosty.

Both pretty shoddy fakes unfortunately. Hope your friend didn't get too badly burned.

Well said Graf - thank you. A Happy New Year to all members & good hunting in 2024.  

Vince & Andreas,

Thanks for the heads-up & link. Another wrinkle revealed to add to my armoury of knowledge. Wonder if I'll ever get a firm handle on collecting Imperial Iron Crosses.     

The frenzy continues. EU 8,000 +25% for an open-back 1813 EKI in Osnabruck last weekend (thanks again Graf for the heads-up). I sincerely hope that the successful bidder is totally satisfied with their purchase for, to me, the silver trim fitting was not to a standard one would expect from an Imperial Court Jeweller's workshop. The cross was also a mite over-distressed IMO. Sour grapes ? Not really for I'm never going to enter that market. That said, I can form an opinion on what is put on offer and EU10K for an 1813 EKI is Wahnsinn.  

Yup, the world is going mad. Somebody stumped-up the best part of EU6400 in Heidelberg yesterday for an admittedly very nice-looking 1870 EKI with fangs. 

Welcome to the forum Robbie. What you have there is an honest-to-goodness 1870 Iron Cross Second Class IMO. A well-struck example so a nice find. But I can see nothing to suggest that it may have been produced by Godet. In fact, it has an iron core typical of those produced by Wagner of Berlin and displays none of the characteristics of an original Godet core. Both makers are generally accepted to have been among the best of the period but Godet seems to have acquired a certain cache among collectors & dealers.    

Yup, alarm bells ringing here for sure. Too many supposedly rare crosses all hitting the market at the same time is Brothers Grimm territory for me. One has even conveniently lost part of its frame so we are left in no doubt whatsoever that it has a stepped core. Really? 

Along with no less than five 1813 EKIIs? Hmnn. Thanks for the 'heads-up'.

That's good enough for me. Sweet item. Thanks again for sharing Stogieman.

That's interesting. An open-back 1813 EKI with Osen is the Holy Grail to most Imperial Cross collectors. The occasional example has surfaced in recent years - a little too often in my cynical opinion and they attract serious money, the last I recall being about three years ago for well over EU 10K. Was this being offered as the 'real deal' or a space saver? It's not the worst I've seen by a long shot. It looks well executed and with medal in hand I could well have been tempted. Thanks for sharing your images.      

Elvis100,

Kerching! You should go out and buy a lottery ticket immediately. Good finds - well done. I'm still envious.

Two Stuttgart EKIs in one hit? That's just greedy. Good luck to you - I'm still looking for one and am very envious.

That looks OK to me.

Graf,

Hardly 'come and buy me' at that price. I guess the seller is employing expectancy theory or maybe it just cost him too much in the first place ? Dealers have their own food chain and must get stung by predatory suppliers from time to time. As you say, Caveat Emptor every time. Thanks for posting.

Ditto. You have joined the right forum for a dependable opinion on Imperial crosses. Look forward to seeing your photos. 

Hmm. Interesting.

Not from that photo I can't. It seems to be an OK cross right enough but not an 1813 piece IMO.   

I would be more comfortable with a Zimmerman attribution rather than a Godet.