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Mike, The design is similar to some early pieces of the Order but it is missing a crown suspension - the granulations between the arms and at the end of the arms are only seen in very early hand made pieces. Also it appears to be a cast or die piece rather than a locally hand made piece. It is most attractive but I think it is of European manufacture - the 'small' size may indicate a French origin. Owain

Rusty, Paul, Thanks for your input. Good to know the mark is of German origin and the crescent and crown indicates it is of silver. I note a crown in a circle (sun) is the gold mark. Silver purity marks are as follows: 800, 830, 835, 900, 925 & 935. I had thought that the complete lack, or indeed absence of tarnish on the piece was because it is of 925 gold rather than silver-gilt, but almost certainly it is of silver gilt. Regards., Owain

Gentlemen, The illustrated miniature, originally sold as a miniature of the Egyptian Order of Ismail, is a bit of a mystery. The crown with its cross is definitely Ethiopian but the star does not have conjoined lower limbs. Ismail miniatures are always seen enamelled and do not have a cabochon, whereas there are issues of the Star of Ethiopia with a cabochon. The revers mark appears to be a C and a crown and the figures 925. Is the crown a European mark? The obverse sees to indicate different (possibly) engraving on the two pieces but the reverse appear to indicate the same manufacturer. Any ideas? Owain

Nice to see an Iraq 1954 Flood Rescue Medal as part of a group. With the award of the Nuclear Veterans medal the recipient of the group with his Canal Zone clasp has two retrospective awards. Owain

Gentlemen, Out of the scope of my collecting but I am across this image. The inscription reads: Top - "We will win" The rest - "Let the Ethiopian Marxist Leninist organisation get stronger" Sadly this small badge represents a grim period of the history of Ethiopia. Owain

Drugo, Many thanks - I now know what the display was for. It is a well presented souvenir of a past era. Owain

Gentlemen, Whilst looking for something else I came across this display sheet of Yugoslav ribbons and devices. Other than what you can see there is no other script or attribution. It appears official and I wonder if it was some manner of government or military display / promotional piece. There is a slight fold which, if I recall correctly was how it came to me. Regards, Owain

Gentlemen, Recently sold on E-Bay a group of five unnamed Egypt & Cyprus RAOB medals - none named. Obverse - 'Bitter Lake Lodge Egypt Cyprus 8414' with clasp 'Bitter Lake LGE 8414'. Reverse - Plain Obverse - 'Overseas Buffalo Association Per Orbem Golo' with suspension inscription, 'Egypt and Cyprus'. Reverse - Maker's marks 'FCP' & 'Parry Birmingham'. Obverse - 'Justice Truthy Philanthropy G.L.E.' with suspension inscription 'Egypt' - see earlier posts. Reverse - 'Member of the Province of Egypt Bro.' Obverse - 'Donor G.A. of Egypt Benevolent Orphans Fund' with clasp 'Egypt & Cyprus Branch No. 6 O.B.A.'. Reverse - Plain Obverse - 'Overseas Buffalo Association RAOB' with clasps 'Egypt & Cyprus Branch No. 6 O.B.A.' and 'O.B.A. Egypt No. 1 Branch'. Reverse - Maker's mark - unclear but possibly/probably 'Birmingham'. Kind regards, Owain

Thanks. I suspect the chance of finding a Jordanian medal roll is near to zero. Some 300 approx UK nationals were presented with the medal - no case or certificate - they were allowed to accept but not to ware. From what limited research I have been able to make the total issue was less than 1,000. Perhaps I should use Google translate and search the Finnish language internet. Owain

Gentlemen, From a dealer sale of some years ago - not mine I hasten to add. My specific interest is in the Jordanian Gratitude Medal of 1970. Awarded by Jordan to those who took part in the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Mission after the black September civil war. I believe the Nordic countries sent NGO's not military medical units. The UK military medical team went in civilian clothes as member of the British Red Cross. “By 28 September the National Societies of the following countries had sent or promised relief in the form of medical supplies, foodstuffs, vehicles, blood plasma, dressing material, surgical instruments, blankets, clothing and cash: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, German Federal Republic, Great Britain, Italy, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and Yugoslavia. Several governments and charitable organizations also announced contributions. ----- At the ICRC’s request a number of national societies sent or promised medical teams to Jordan to work under the flag of the International Committee. ----- The ICRC accepted British and American government’s offers to send surgical and medical teams to Jordan to work under the sign of the Red Cross in combination with the assistance programme already started by the ICRC.” ICRC Report October 1970. I have identified the awards, I think, as follows: Cross of Liberty, 3rd Class with Oak Leaves; Cross of Liberty, 3rd Class; Cross of Liberty, 4th Class; Order of the Lion of Finland, Knight 1st Class, 1939-40 Winter War, clasp ‘Karjalan-Kannas’ (Karelian-Isthmus) with Swords; 1941-45 War Medal; 1939-40 Central Karelian Isthmus Cross; 1941-44 Eastern Isthmus Cross; Germany Third Reich - Iron Cross, 2nd Class; Jordan - Gratitude Medal 1970. Is the group original ? I have no idea. Perhaps the recipient was initially a soldier then after 1945 became an administrator or a doctor. Any ideas? Thanks, Owain

Graf, The Cornuau miniature is stunning. Igor, Lovely group - I wonder what the missing piece was - sadly no idea of knowing. Owain Gentlemen, I attach two bars purchased some years ago from South America - there is a LdH but a poor quality one. From my notes: For a collector one of the joys of the internet is to travel the world from a desk in search of acquisitions for a collection. The two bars of miniatures illustrated here came from an auction house in Uruguay. My delight in being able to obtain the pair was somewhat tempered by the complexity of payment and cost of shipping and indeed by the time the pair arrived the cost of shipping had exceeded the cost of purchase. Notwithstanding the saga of purchase, the pair, totalling fourteen awards, consists of at least ten Grand Cordon or First Class orders. The grade of award is indicated by the small rosette and gilt wings or ‘galon’ upon the ribbon and it is possible that at least three of the remaining four are of a similar high grade of which two appear to be miniature breast stars rather than miniature badges. From the seniority of the awards within the set it may be reasonable to assume that the recipient was possibly a Minister or Ambassador. Sadly there is no award from Uruguay where the miniatures were purchased, nor is more than one award from the lead order on either bar to suggest a source from Chile or Peru. Group 1 - Peru, China, Sacro Militare Ordine Constantiniano di San Giorgio (Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George – 1st Class, France, Ecuador, Brazil & Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM) - Pro Merito Melitensi (For Merit) – 1st Class Civil. Group 2 - Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Spain, Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM) – Supremus Ordo Militaris Hospitalis Sancti Ioannis Hierosolymitani Rhodius et Melitensis (The Sovereign Military Hospitaler Order Of Saint John Of Jersualem, Of Rhodes And Of Malta) – 1st Class, Egypt & Italy. Enjoy, Owain

Graf, This time a modest group of three - LdH, Medjide (Egypt or Ottoman) & Star of Ethiopia, dating late 19th / early 20th century. Owain

Graf, In complete contrasts to your beautiful miniatures I detail another LdH and Order of Merit group. I attach images of General Diallo's miniatures - a very large group! I detail below my notes on the group. Errors/ommissions mea culpa. Owain General Jean Alfred Diallo (16 September 1911 - 22 Mai 2006). The group is an excellent representative set of the French award manufacturer Arthus Bertrand and of the medallic heritage of post-independence French West Africa. Diallo initially saw military service with French Colonial troops during the Second World War. Subsequent to the independence of Senegal in 1960 his military career flourished and he was appointed Commander in Chief and Chief of the General Staff of the Senegalese Army for 10 years. During his career he also commanded the National Gendarmerie from August 1968 to June 1972 and was also Director of Military Justice and Inspector of the Republican Guard. In later life he was appointed Ambassador of Senegal to the Federal Republic of Germany. In old age he retired to France and died at the age of 95 at Versailles outside Paris. The Republic of Senegal is the westernmost country of the African continent and became a French colony in the 19th century. The country became independent on 20 August 1960 and the first President Leopold Sedar Senghor ruled from 1960 to 1981. Unlike many other African nations the military in Senegal has not intervened in political matters and it receives much of its equipment, support and training from France. The miniatures are all, it is believed to be, of French manufacture – silver-gilt, silver or bronze and are mounted in three rows of twelve, twelve and eleven miniatures respectively. All of the rosettes are riveted to the ribbons and are not sewn on. Top Row 1. Senegal - Grand Cross (1st Class) of the National Order of the Lion. 2. France - Commander (3rd Class) of the Legion of Honour 3. Senegal – Grand Cross (1st Class) of the Order of Merit 4. France - Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the National Order of Merit. 5. France - Croix de Guerre 1939 1945 – no reverse date 6. France - Croix de Guerre for Overseas Operations – no reverse date 7. France – Combatant’s Cross. 8. Unofficial – European Combatant’s Cross. 9. France 1939-45 War Medal 10. France - Indochina Campaign Medal 11. France - The Rhine and Danube Association Medal 12. Malta – Grand Cross of the Sovereign Order of St John of Jerusalem & Malta Middle Row 1. Ivory Coast - Grand Cross (1st Class) of the National Order 2. Ethiopia – Grand Cross (1st Class) of the Order of the Star of Ethiopia 3. Ethiopia – Grand Cross (1st Class) of the Order of Menelik II 4. Argentina – Grand Cross (1st Class) of the Order of May - Military Merit Division (N.B. the badge is of a pre-1957 type – possibly an error of the French manufacturer.) 5. Brazil – Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the Order of Diplomatic Merit 6. Cameroon – Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the Order of Valour 7. Togo – Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the Order of Mono 8. Morocco – Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the Order of the Alouite 9. Tunisia - Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the Order of the Republic, (miniature breast star) 10. Lebanon – Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the Order of Cedar, (miniature breast star) 11. Belgium – Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the Order of Leopold I 12. Luxembourg – Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the Order of the Crown of Luxembourg Row 3 1. Austria - Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the Decoration of Merit of Austria 2. Madagascar - Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the Malagasy National Order 3. Niger – Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the National Order of the Republic of Niger 4. Zaire - Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the National Order of the Leopard 5. Gabon - Grand Officer (2nd Class) of the Order of the Equatorial Star 6. Dahomey - Commander (3rd Class) of the National Order 7. Mauritania – Commander (3rd Class) of the National Order of Merit 8. Malta - Commander (3rd Class) of the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem 9. Benin - Officer (4th Class) of the Order of the Black Star of Benin 10. France - Colonial Service Medal 11. France – Ruhr, Rhine and Tyrol Occupation Medal – 2nd Type post 1945 Prior to independence the then Colonel Jean-Alfred Diallo served with the French military and commanded a battalion of the 5th Engineers at Versailles. He returned to Senegal shortly before the political crisis of December 1962 when the Prime Minister Mamadou Dia was accused of an attempted coup d’etat. President Senghor appointed Diallo Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces instead of General Fall and whilst Diallo had agreed not to take sides, under pressure from French officers he would give his support to the President. Thirty years later in 1992, General Diallo noted, “Mamadou Dia has never made a coup d'état against Senghor - the history of the coup d'état is pure fabrication”.

Good morning from London, This time a French LdH 3rd Class/Commander led group of five with Dutch, Belgian, Japanese and Moroccan awards. Possibly a diplomat. The centre of the Moroccan order reads, "Allah, the Nation, the King". A nice group but I am not sure if I like the suspension brooch - a bit 'chunky'. Owain

Graf, I don't think the MM earrings were made from solid miniature pieces, rather they are cast hollow silver items. Perhaps this was done as hollow pieces would be lighter to wear from the earlobe? Owain

Graf, Something different - silver Medaille Militaire earrings - found in a bric-a-brac/antique shop in Boston, USA. Owain

Graf, Lovely mini chain - possibly a diplomat? Owain

Gentlemen, Another LDH led group acquired in the last few years - no research done and I doubt if much is possible other than to provide a summary of each award. The recipient of these awards was, I suspect some manner of late nineteenth and/or early 20th century senior diplomat or colonial administrator with much service in Indo-China. Owain

Good morning All, I attach a Belgian group containing a miniature Labour Decoration - whilst the crown appears to be silver (possibly tarnished?) the rosette would infer it is a 1st Class award. Kind regards, Owain.

Graf, Superb selection of beautiful pieces - well done! Owain Graf, The group illustrated below was sold to me as a early / mid-19th century LDH trio........close inspection reveals otherwise! Owain 1. France – the Decoration of the Lily 2. Spain – the Order of Isabella the Catholic 3. Brazil – the Imperial Order of the Southern Cross

Thanks Graf, This time another LDH led group - all pieces in gold - superb workmanship - no details of the recipient but appears to be a post WW2 senior civil servant or diplomat. Regards, Owain

Graf, Further to my posting of an image of Fournage's miniatures I detail below some information and further images. Owain From online research Guillaume Auguste Fournage was born in the 14th Arrondissement (Seine District) of Paris on 21 May 1901 and died at Frejus, Var, on 13 August 1991 – Frejus is a department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in South-Eastern France. He joined the French navy in 1919 and was appointed ‘Enseigne de Vaisseau’ 2nd Class (Midshipman) on 1 October 1921 at Cherbourg. He was prompted to ‘Enseigne de Vaisseau’ 1st Class (Sub-Lieutenant) on 1 October 1923 and on 18 January 1929 he was promoted to the rank of ‘Lieutenant de Vaisseau’ (Lieutenant). On 1 January 1932 he was at Cherbourg and later promoted to ‘Capitaine de Corvette’ (Lieutenant Commander) and thereafter to ‘Commandeant le Croiseur Auxiliaire’ (Commander Auxiliary Cruiser) X10. Fournage was appointed a Knight of the Order of Honour on 28 June 1934 – see certificate below, and his rank is noted a ‘Lieutenant de Vaisseau’ (Lieutenant). He was promoted to Officer, 4th Class, of the Order on 11 November 1946 and his certificate – see below, when issued was dated 14 March 1947 – his rank is noted as ‘Capitaine de Frégate’ (Commander). Both certificates note his date of birth as 21 May 1901. According to the vendor Fournage was also a lucky man as during his service in the Far East he served on the ill fated French Submarine Le Phénix. Le Phénix was a 1500 ton first class large patrol submarine - commissioned on October 21, 1932. As part of a tour, the submarine sailed from Toulon with her sister ship, the submarine Espoir, arriving in Saigon on December 16, 1938. On June 15, 1939, during an attack exercise, the submarine sank off the coast of Annam with the loss of all hands – some 72 officers and other ranks. All attempts to refloat the submarine were in vain and the exact cause of the sinking was never determined with certainty. Fournage was fortunate that his service on Le Phénix submarine was over before this calamitous event. Whilst Fournage’s chainette of miniatures does not include any campaign medals his orders and decorations attest to a distinguished career.

Graf, Lovely piece. Further to my picture of Ehrsam's miniatures here are my notes. Owain 1. Ordre National de la Légion d'Honneur - National Order of the Legion of Honour – Commander, 3rd Class - 5th Republic issue 2. Ordre National de la Merite – National Order of Merit – Commander, 3rd Class 3. Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 – War Cross 1939-45 4. Médaille de la Resistance - Resistance Medal 5. Croix du Combattant Volontaire de la Resistance - Resistance Volunteers Combattants Cross 6. Croix du Combattant - Combatants Cross 7. Médaille Commémorative Française de la Guerre 1939-1945 - Commemorative Medal for the 1938-45 War 8. Ordre des Palmes Academiques – Order of Academic Palms – Officer, 2nd Class – embellished with diamonds 9. Ordre d’Économie National (1954-61) – Order of National Economy – Knight, 3rd Class 10. Médaille d’Honneur du Travail du Ministère du Commerce et de L’Industrie (2nd Type) - Ministry of Commerce & Industry Medal of Honour for Work – in silver for 40 years service. 11. Ordo Militaris et Hospitalis Sancti Lazari Hierosolymitani - Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem – Knight Commander, 2nd Class 12. Étoile Civique – Civic Star, 2nd Class Medal 13. Croix d’Honneur Franco-Britannique 1940-44 – Franco-British Honour Cross - Gold Cross Jacques Joseph Adolphe Ehrsam was born in Paris on 22 February, 1917. Further to obtaining a degree in law at the Faculty of Law in Paris he continued his studies obtaining a Diploma from the Paris School of Business. Subsequently he worked at the Ministry of National Economy. During the Second World War he served with distinction and in later life was interviewed* and responded as follows: The Légion d’Honneur is awarded for distinguished services. How did you earn this decoration? “It should have been awarded to the guardian angel who permitted me to survive six years in the army, six months in the maquis and two months in the Red Army.” What were you doing in the Soviet Army? “The French government sent us on a mission to recuperate material from factories and ports, seized in France by the Nazis and moved to Germany and the Baltic ports, in other words inside the Soviet zone. Once we reached Kaliningrad (Königsberg), our little group of three found ourselves engaged in combat in a war zone facing an S.S. tank division. That’s when I realised the importance of luck: shells falling into the mud without exploding, bullets whizzing past without touching us. The men and material available to us seemed limitless. We didn’t repair, but replaced them. We saw carts that appeared to date from the days of Gengis Khan, there were endless convoys of camels from factories in Siberia bringing us relief supplies. I was also struck by a strange mixture of kindness and cruelty in those Soviet officers and their men. My military career terminated with the rank of Commander of the Red Army.” (* “Jacques Ehrsam, commandeur de la Légion d’Honneur Un destin exceptionnel”, par Christian Barras, La Vie a Crans Monatan – Crans-Montana life, Edition No.44, Summer, 2003.) At the end of WW2 Jacques was considering two possible careers – public service or to follow his family into business as an employee of Singer France – he took the latter course. From 1961 to 1972 he was General Manager and assistant to the President of Singer France and in 1972 became President of the Company following in the footsteps of both his father Maurice and grandfather Adolph. Jacques retired from Singer in 1982. From 1967 he was President of the Union of French Manufacturers of Sewing and Knitting Machines. He was also an Administrator of the Federation of Mechanical and metal processing industries. From 1967 he was a member of the Paris Chamber of Commerce and industry becoming President of the Chamber in 1979. In later life he lived in the Valais region of Switzerland and became President of the Vaud-Valais Committee of Mutual Aid between members of the Légion d’Honneur, Swiss Section and he was also Head of the Légion d’Honneur Bicentenary Commission. Jacques Ehrsam died, aged 101, on 5 June, 2018.

Graf, Superb pieces. Another group - attributed to a Captain Marc Fluhr. I detail my notes - research below. Regards, Owain. 1. Ordre National de la Légion d'Honneur - Officer, 4th Class National Order of the Legion of Honour 2. Croix de Guerre 1914-19 – War Cross 1914-18 with gilt, silver and bronze citation stars 3. Croix de Guerre des Théâtres d’Opérations Extérieurs – War Cross of Theatres of External Operations 4. Médaille Commémorative des Évadés 1914-18 – Escapees Medal 1914-18 5. Médaille Commémorative de la Guerre 1914-18 – War Commemorative Medal 1914-18 with clasp ENG VOL “Engagés Volontaires” (Committed Volunteers), 6. Croix Des Services Militaire Volontaire – 3rd Class Volunteers Military Service Cross 7. Annam – Order of Dragon – military award 1886-96, Commander (3rd Class) 8. Médaille d’Honneur du Ministère de l’Hygiène, de l’Assistance et de la Prévoyance Sociale – 3rd Class Medal of Honour of the Ministry of Health Assistance and Social Providence 9. Médaille d’Honneur du Ministère du Travail et de la Prévoyance Sociale – 3rd Class Medal of Honour of the Ministry of Labour and Social Providence 10. Belgium – Order of Leopold II – Knight (5th Class) 11. Belgium – Order of the Crown – Knight (5th Class) 12. Belgium - Croix de Guerre 1940-45 – War Cross 1940-45 This particular group of miniatures was purchased mounted in an old and decaying frame and stuck on the reverse was a faded typed note listing the miniatures under the heading: “Decorations du Capitaine Marc Fluhr, né le 28 Juillet 1888 à Thann (Haut Rhin)” (Decorations of Captain Marc Fluhr, born on 28 July 1888 in Thann (Upper Rhine)) Thann is a town located in the department of Haut-Rhin in the Alsace region the north east of France. It is to the northwest of Mulhouse near to the French Swiss border at Basel. Further to a search on the internet Marc Fluhr graduated in 1907, as one of thirty-seven graduates, from what is now known as the Ecole Nationale Superieure d’Ingenieurs Sud Alsace – an establishment which was set up in 1861 to train engineers for textile industry. His service during the Great War is self-evident from the awards he received and, if possible, deserves further research. It appears he was a volunteer and acted as an interpreter. Further internet research reveals that during Second World War, whilst living in Belgium, he had a link to the Belgian underground network which led resistance against the Nazi occupation. In Etienne Verhoeyen’s research on the Belgian resistance network in the Limoge area reference is made to Fluhr who, living in Brussels, was the Secretary-General of the French School, Boulevard Poincaré and Director of the French Chamber of Commerce. Fluhr is noted as being a Reserve Captain and an agent of the French 2nd Bureau and thus a point of contact for leading members of the Belgian resistance in the area. The 2nd Bureau was the French external military intelligence agency from 1871 to 1940. The research notes he was FFC (Forces Francaise Combattants) Captain for the Belgian ‘Mithridate’ network from early 1943. In a post-war declaration Fluhr confirms that he played a role in the French 2nd Bureau from before May 10, 1940 while living in Brussels. He had had an agent in Ostend and vaguely recalled that the 2nd Bureau installed a transmitter on an Ostend fishing boat. The inclusion of the 1940 Belgian War Cross with a Bronze palm indicating an Army level citation would infer that Fluhr’s work during the war was formally recognised. The Belgian orders may also be from this period.

Graf, Lovely detail. I attach another group - possibly to an inter-war diplomat with awards from Spain, Egypt, Serbia, Malta, Italy, Tunisia Romania, Belgium and again Romania. The purple edge stripes on the last award - Order of Cultural Merit, 1st Type (1931-40 King Carol II obverse) Knight 2nd class, indicates that it was awarded for literary merit. Owain