Wild Card

Surprisingly there is a minor flaw visible here. Yes, the left arm of the red cross is a fraction of a millimeter too long.

Gentlemen, One of the rarer (ca. 3,000 awarded) and most unique Prussian awards is the 1871 merit cross for women and young women. Fortunately, while it’s complex construction pretty much discourages forgeries and fakes, at the same time this also presents challenges when it comes to producing accurate miniatures. As a result, miniatures of this award are usually poorly reworked iron crosses. Here is a rare example done as it should be - black enamel within the silver frame…

Hello stupot, Over the years I have found Tim Eriksen to be a good source for Imperial ribbons. Good luck, Wild Card

#7!

Very nice items and a very generous contribution. Thanks for sharing… literally.

I agree - worth consideration.

A lifesaver.

Knight 2nd class w/swds.

Knight 1st class.

A commander’s cross with golden rays.

Rudi, Your barrette in post #576 is quite spectacular and I find the French Legion d’Honor in combination with the Hannoverian Guelph interesting. Thank you for all of your posts. For you, here are some friends from Hesse - The patriarch.

Beautiful!

Wild guess from Wild Card - East German?

Carol I, Fantastic material and incredibly clear pictures (my complements). One question. Do the numbers provide any information as to whom these pieces belonged or were awarded to? Many thanks for sharing this. Wild Card

Well done, but I must admit that I have made similar mistakes more than once

Gentlemen, Going back a bit for a moment. Lars, your Ernst August Orden cross is a truly beautiful and rare gem. I hope that I may be fortunate enough to see it some day. Peter J, I think that your St. Henry (post #494) is really a knight’s, not commander’s, cross. The very early kight’s crosses of this order are distinguished by their “massive” fixed crown with the small and rather odd öse. See below -

It was worth the wait

Very nice. Thank you for sharing. Wild Caed

Six years later! Well done Andreas.

A better view.

To go along with this, I would propose the very much look-alike one of a kind Johanniter Order Protektordekoration which was awarded in 1888 and the, also one of a kind, Johanniter Order Protektordekoration with the Marian Order cross which was awarded in 1913, both to Kaiser Wilhelm. For something a little less esoteric, how about the Braunschweig Henry the Lion Order 4th class (that’s right 4th class) cross with swords… one awarded.

A little closer to home, we could start with the RAO grand cross with oak leaves, crown, scepter and sword that was awarded to Bismark in 1878.

Beautiful collection, congratulations! It is good to see that the commander's star with crown and swords found a good home. I trust that you got the cross that went with it as well.