Claudio

the cross...

no. 48!

Hi Westfale, Here's your medal being worn on a Spange with other medals... ? Preussen, EK 2. Klasse 1914 am Nichtk?mpferband, nur ca. 13?000 Verleihungen! (OEK 1909) ? Preussen, Verdienstkrez f?r Kriegshilfe, 1916-24 (OEK 1966) ? Preussen, Rote Kreuz Medaille, 2. Klasse (OEK 1871) ? Preussen, Rote Kreuz Medaille, 3. Klasse (OEK 1872) ? Oldenburg, Kriegsverdienstmedaille, 1917-1918 (OEK 1565) ? Deutsches Reich 1933-45, Ehrenkreuz f?r Kriegsteilnehmer (OEK 3803/2) ? Preussen, Centenarmedaille 1897 (OEK 1965) Ciao, Claudio

My Komturkreuz in Gold of the Hausorden Heinrich des L?wen... Your stuff, Andreas, is really breathtaking... how many RK with swords in the middle were given: 5? There was also one on Thies' auction today, "am Einzelbandschnalle". Great also and extremely rare the spange "old style". About what date would you situate your medal bar? Ciao, Claudio

Hi Chris! I already saw that medal being sold at Hermann Historica Auction a couple of years ago. I don't know if this Austrian "Spange" is legit, though. The ribbons looks quite brand new for me. The combination is quite interesting. It looks to have the same ribbon, although yours is very faded. Ciao, Claudio

The grey backing and needle system of the long ribbon bar indicates that this bar was assembled by Godet & S?hne, very likely after 34-36. Ciao, Claudio

Thank you Christian... I thought so... but I wasn't sure! The back is totally white enamel. Ciao, Claudio

Dear forumites: I am proud to introduce to you my brother's last acquisition; a single mounted white enameled cross of Oldenburg. Does somebody know what was it for? Maybe some kind of decorations for merits in industry or commerce or even a veteran sort of commemorative cross? Thanks in advance for your inputs. Ciao, Claudio

Hi Stogie, The first photo looks like taken from a Hermann Historica catalogue. Ciao, Claudio

Hi Mark, It looks very similar to my brother's bar, although it doesn't have an iron cross. If it was a junior officer, I would put the "Eisb?r" (Ritterzeichen 2. Klasse, Silber, the one shown on my brother's bar), as a NCO he would have received a Verdienstmedaille (Gold or Silver), which even rarer (to me at least). Ciao, Claudio

Dear forumites: I would like to introduce a decoration, which is not so known to the most collectors and doesn't appear to be so "attractive" since it was a Bavarian for war merit at home (sort of KVK). According to Nimmergut (Deutsche Orden & Ehrenzeichen, Band Nr. 1, Seiten 215 und 216): Insgesamt wurden von Juli 1916 bis M?rz 1918 ca. 73'000 Verleihungen vorgenommen. Die erste Verleihung betrug 4'400 Exemplare. Founded in: Stiftung: 07.01.1916 durch K?nig Ludwig III. von Bayern Awardes for: "... als Zeichen ehrender und dankbarer Anerkennung f?r solche Person... die sich w?hrend dieses Krieges durch dienstliche oder freiwillige T?tigkeit in der Heimat besondere Verdienste um das Heer oder die allgemeine Wohlfahrt des Landes erworben haben." Enjoy! I would like you to contribute to this thread and am kindly asking to post yours... Ciao, Claudio

4th pic

3rd pic

2nd pic:

Dear forumites: I would like to hear your most appreciated comments on this badge, which was offered to me. From the needle on the back it looks like a Meybauer, but since I am not a specialist and don't trust too much from where it is coming, I am very skeptical. Thanks in advance for your input! Ciao, Claudio

Hi Eitze the Oldenburg'scher Hausorden looks very promising. It would nice to know the weight, since it's in Gold. I have seen one like this being sold at Thies; it was spectacular and had also swords "am Ring". In reality these look much much better. Here I am posting some better images of the Feldspangen being offered on the Zeige's auction. I don't like the first spange: the needle on the back looks "modern" and the combination quite "extravagant" to say the least. The second one looks better; devices, combinations... only thing on the back you can notice that the bar was prolonged. Any further comments? Ciao, Claudio

Thanks Glenn, that is great news! It seemed to me also strange that an officer would write his own name so badly on the interior of the helmet, like Rick said that it could have been some collector's name, but it could be that his son or family member did it for him. Thanks! Ciao, Claudio

Thank you all for your inputs. I will send the helmet as soon as possible back to the seller. You just confirmed what I thought. In the future I will never bid on such helmets, being just illustrated on a catalogue (very small pictures). You never stop learning. I guess I was too greedy (the temptation was too big) and tried my luck. Ciao, Claudio

Only the eagle...

Here another detail of the spike, notice the dull kind of yellow color in contrast with the bright and brillant fire gilting of the chinscale, and the different types of the stars used at the base of the spike. Ciao, Claudio

And here a picture of the leather helmet without "chicken"... I would really appreciate more comments on these last two images. Thanks in advance! Ciao, Claudio

Thank you for your comments, Daniel. Here I am posting some additional pics. I really think that the eagle was polished, because it seems to be an original from the back and also quite "worn", too, contrary to the "new" look shown on the obverse. Very likely all the fire gilting went lost while being polished.

Hi Paul, I thought the same... I inspected also the Eagle... it seems there are no double holes or signs that the eagle has been exchange or improved, but on the other hand, it's impossible to tell the contrary! I feel like this time I have been fooled badly!!! That's no good feeling... Here's a pic of the eagle's reverse; as you can see neither the front nor the reverse show the crisp details you would expect from such an Officer's eagle. Any other comments also from other Pickelhaube specialists? Ciao, Claudio

Yes, but I leave like the original owner put it. Very likely he wanted to show the inscription or maybe the taylor/dealer who mounted the bar didn't have a clue. Ciao, Claudio

Today I feel good: I just restored one medal bar.... it looks much better now and this improvement costed me not more than USD 20.-