922F

Thank you Demir!   

The badge and star corpus look similar to those of the Order of the Star of Anjouan--an award subsumed into the French colonial honor system and later incorporated by the Comore Republic.  That might fit well with insignia design and manufacture by a French producer.

Could anyone identify the honor represented by the attached images?  The usual sources do not appear to include it.  Have seen it described by dealers as a 'superior' Ottoman naval award and [much less plausibly] as a sort of Medjidjie Order naval division.  The suspension, badge corpus and  motto ring obviously differ from Medjidjie exemplars.  Insignia seen to date include apparent 5th, 4th [rosette on ribbon], 3rd [neck ribbon] class and an [orphan?] star.   Just one 5th class piece included a Medjidjie type suspender.  None had typical zig-zag test marks or other apparent manufacturer marks.   

This auction includes a number of possibly identifiable bars!

Look at item 325503912188 ribbon edges.  Easily visable edge looks to be chain-stiched rather than warp & weft.   Maybe that vendor means ribbon made in the 1990's?

German origin ribbon above appears to be warp/weft construction so more appropriate with insignia manufacture compatable/contemporary terms.   

And...both seem to be similar green color shade. 

Make-it-yourself triangle ribbons with gromet & hook fastener is possible but several commercial providers [Austria, Croatia, etc.] can do it for a price.  

Quite useful, thank you Graf!   Does it appear that the box black designs are lithographed or printed or, because the box is silver, niello work?  

Graf, Thanks for additional images.    Do you think that the cigarette manufacturer won a medal at the fair--cannot make out 2 words on the lid.

Great One!

Green indeed appears an unusual choice!  Ribbon design above not far off that of Bulgarian Medal for Participation in the Balkan Wars 1912-1913 military ribbon version.  [Above example displays a bit narrower inner white stripe]...

You are certainly welcome, small enough item compared to your many contributions!   Here's a somewhat better image of the "Walt" group mounted by Spink.  Obviously, a highly improbabal assemblage--a complete jumble!

Hello,

Neglected to say that this perhaps is a second or auxiliary group of a Britisher worn in conjunction with another mini bar consisting of [solely?] British awards.   Although uncommon, not an unknown practice.

If to a French officer, suppose it's possible that Spink of London mounted the group but would certainly expect additional French awards, including both orders & medals.  Also an admiral likely would have higher than officer level Legion of Honor and Nichan Iftikhir awards.  

U.S. Public Law 253 created the U.S. Navy DSM  on February 4, 1919.   The U.S. had no national level decorations [as opposed to campaign medals] other than the Medal Of Honor before WW I.  A Navy DSM satisfied the need to recognize distinguished and exceptionally meritorious service while serving in a duty or position of great responsibility for its own naval personnel. 

Awards recognizing non-U.S. Navy personnel for similar service occured as early as September 16, 1919 to UK Admiral John Jellico & David Beatty for the Battle of Jutland.  Another example, French Admiral Louis Dartige du Fournet received the honor around 1922-23.  At that time, like other French admirals,  he held several Croix de Guerres and many other French & foreign awards which one might expect to see displayed in a mini group. 

Recall Spink were at Piccadilly Street 1890's-1930's; that might be another clue but could be wrong regarding exact dates.

And, always possible, someone commissioned it or found component items and assembled it!

I'll try to find a better image of the apparently Spink assembled group in my above post.

Cheers, and thanks for your interest

7 hours ago, Graf said:

Hi 992F , Thank you for listing them

1937 Model is rare and in a medal group even rarer

 

Yes...Quite an interesting group and perhaps tracable to an individual with the Civil Merit Order and first type Phoenix plus what appears to be a late addition of the Hungarian Merit Order evidenced by the bar reverse configuration all contributing to narrowing the field time wise.   Lack of Bulgarian and Hungarian WW I commemoratives might help too.

Graf, Again, kudos on assembling this nearly complete series of medals commemorating the 1892 Plodiv fair!   Good luck with finding a gold one.

What do you think about end usage for the round medal version with holed extrusion for ribbon ring?  [images below].   I have two small crudely made groups that include that type--will find them and post images.

Thank you for all of your research efforts here and, I am sure, elsewhere! 

Based on awards and Spink mount bar, suspect these miniatures may have belonged to a senior British naval officer WW I period.  Of course, as a business, Spink would mount decorations in any order requested.   See below for an example sold via exay within the past year. 

Thank you Nick, as usual, spot on!  Years ago, a now defunct British dealer advertized these white enameled stars as related to or indicating collar grade insignia.   A Portuguese colleague quickly righted that error and the dealer published a correction but the misconception lingers on.  

Not photographs, but several German groups that include Bulgarian awards in Ratisbon's next auction:   Sample below.  Civil Merit in 2nd image is 1937 type!!

Great images!!

Fantastic!  Cannot recall ever seeing this format document!  Will look through 'Red Army' issued documents 1946 ? -- think they all are hand written however.  Terrific find and thank you for sharing!!

How about a nurse?  Ratisbon's next USA auction...

Thanks New World & Graf for this additonal information and images--may have one or two like New World's & will confirm when/if located.   

Like this ex-George Seymour collection group?  {Ratisbon"s next USA Auction} 

In simplified form, this Order comprises three 'classes' each divided into three 'ranks' for a total of nine 'grades'.   Quotes because these characterizations are not entirely accurate designations.  The number of stars indicates the rank of the insignia within class.  Three stars on insignia indicate the highest level within rank so a sash set with three stars would be "Special Grand Cordon" or senior most honor.  Other designators between classes include enamel color on 'rays' seen as white or blue on above specimens and, at some point ribbon, pattern.  Sources including World Orders of Knighthood and Merit describe this system.   

Wiki offers a simplified guide at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Brilliant_Star; one can visit the ROC President's Chinese language site as well.

As to ribbon color, there's little information on when it changed from 'dark crimson' to various striped combinations.  Some sources suggest post-WW II and some the early-mid 1950's.  Friends in Taipai have not been able to obtain this information from either the President's office, the Foreign Ministry or the Ministry of Defense.  Likewise, they have not been able to locate a register of recipients by serial number engraved on badge/star reverses via the same sources.  That information might help determine which type ribbon appropriately accompanies specific insignia.

I agree--do you think that's the use for which they were intended?

Graf--Here, finally, are images of my Ist class [step] 'replacement' case.  Note raw wood risers in case bottom interior and pad bottom red material.  Case lid upper exterior edges are beveled about 45 degrees.  Only apparent differences between ours may be class and type of sword designation on outer lid and perhaps overall size.   I may have another similar case but cannot find it at present [collection not stored at home] and do not remember what desigination insignia it supposedly accompanied--even what Order.  

First class case dimensions:  30 Cm. X 12 cm. X 5 cm. 

Have seen 7 or 8 cases of this type since about 1998, including on offer & in collections in Sofia, Bulgarian, French & British dealers, and ours.   All contained badge & star sets of one grade or another.

Hello Graf,

Just returned to GMIC.   Meiner Meinung nach ist dies ein hervorragend gemachtes Sammlerstück.
Bitte sehen Sie sich die Bilder an und urteilen Sie.  

translates to English as:

My opinion is this is a superbly made collector's item.
Please see the pictures and judge yourself. 

Will look forward to comparing our 'replacement' cases.

Hello Graf!   

I see vendor now expresses this opinion about that set: 
Meiner Meinung nach ist dies ein hervorragend gemachtes Sammlerstück.
Bitte sehen Sie sich die Bilder an und urteilen Sie.

A refreshing development!

I shall continue to look for the fake case and post images when found.