Christophe

Hendrik, Excellent. As far as you know, has this mdal really been awarded ? Cheers. Ch.

Simon, your turn now!!!!! Ch.

Ed, Frankly, Simon did the hard job, in reminding that Putin unveiled such a plaque and giving us the context (when the Order has been created). I then just had to find the place ... I therefore propose that Simon is the winner. It seems fair to me. Do you agree ? Ch.

I think it is on the State Kremlin Palace (previously the Palace of Congresses). Ch.

Good job, Simon . Here is what I have found on what seems to be this plaque : " BBC MONITORING - KREMLIN VICTORY PLAQUE GIVES PROMINENCE TO STALIN Shortly before the Victory Parade yesterday [9th May 2000] Vladimir Putin unveiled a memorial plaque bearing the names of the statesmen and military leaders who have been awarded the Order of Victory. The memorial plaque measures 2 metres by 3 metres and weighs 2.5 tonnes. The plaque is cast in bronze and embellished with gilt and embossed work. It is the work of the sculptor Zurab Tsereteli, president of the Russian Academy of Arts... The plaque's primary interest lies not in its artistic merit but in the implications of the list of names commemorated. The list is headed by Generalissimo Iosif Vissarionovich Stalin. Together with the commemorative coin issued by the Central Bank to mark the 55th anniversary of Victory, Tsereteli's plaque forms a sort of series of Stalin mementoes linked to Victory Day. By and large, this is understandable. The two leitmotivs of this year's Victory celebrations are victory as a national tradition and the tough centralized leadership that established this national tradition. The image of precise, outwardly modest, impersonal leadership has become the new hallmark of the celebrations, replacing the tearful sincerity that was becoming established in Yeltsin's times. Stalin symbolizes this image to a certain extent. The subtlety of Tsereteli's work lies, perhaps, in its impeccable stylization: The plaque is surprisingly well matched not only to the strictly official style of the Palace of Congresses but also to the strictly official image of the president who unveiled it. It is amazing how life has changed the sculptor. There are no flourishes or ornamentation. Mind you, the style is unimportant. Tsereteli has managed to see to it that the new president too has received his own two tonnes of artistic metalwork." Let's wait Ed's verdict... Ch.

A royal vessel. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Sword and decorations belonging to Lieutnant Alfonso de Cerqueira, who commanded the expeditionary Marine Battalion in Angola, in the combats at Mongua in 1914-1915. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Vice-Admiral Joao de Azevedo Coutinho (1865-1944). Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Other view. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Other view. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Another view. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Sword and decorations of Vice-Admiral Joao de Azevedo Coutinho (1865-1944). Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

As usual, I can post close-up pics of any order of medal if you wish so. Ch.

Close-up pic. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Sword and decorations belonging to Vice-Admiral Hermenegildo Capelo, explorer in Austral Africa (1877-1880 and 1884-1885). Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Order of the Military Merit (Spain) + Portuguese medal. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Order of St James of the Sword. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Close-up 2. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Close-up. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Sword and decorations belonging to Councilor Antonio Eduardo Vila?a. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Others. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Other orders and medals of Vice-Admiral Viscount de Soares Franco, including French L?gion d'Honneur. Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (Italy). Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

Order of St. Stanislas (Russia). Ch. Pic : ? Christophe ? ChR Collection

My summer trip (4 weeks in total) split between Spain and Portugal, was really fascinating. I had the opportunity to visit Bilbao, Guernica, Valladolid, Salamanca (Spain), Lisboa, Algarve, Sagres (Portugal), Sevilla, Cordoba, Madrid and Barcelona (Spain again). I have still plenty of wonders in my eyes. Ch.