larsb001

Hello All. After having been presented with a White Eagle Star yesterday we could go a few classes up and have a look at an Andrew. It's nicely made, 50 mm across, appears unmarked and have a strange fastening system that resembles the hooks found on the Austrian Red Cross 1864-1914 officers cross. So apart from the usual suspicion on beeing tourist souvenir etc this confuses me a little, is it an privately made (of course) princely size star, very large miniature, or something else like a uniform part or .... just a tourist souvenir? But it seems too good to be an tourist souvenir, if a fake, why choose such an odd size and why choose this odd fastening system? Any thoughts or comments? Lars

So my first thought as "bad tourist souvenir" were correct, thought so, but wanted to be sure. Thanks again, Nick. Lars

Friends, have been asked about this one, but have never seen this before, assumed to be "Order of the red & black fish" Can anybody tell me what this is and also if it's good or bad. I have no experience with these Chinese items, but one would instantly think bad tourist souvenir, but ..... Any comments? Seems there's a long story on the reverse! Lars

Hello Bob Thank you for this info, seems I have to study a little more. Lars

Hello La Collection Phaleristique (couldn't you have chosen a shorter name?) Great site you have, I have been around and yes, a marvelous collection. But then I have a question. I have just got this which I take as a miniature as it's 16 mm wide. But this one have white enamelled arms and the one you have have blue enamelled arms. What's does the difference in colours means, I presume there's a difference? Regards, Lars

Hi Rudi. Need to have a word with these Swedish collectors or dealers again But speaking of small miniature bars you may like this one although not from Hessen. A simple Silver bar with a EK 1813 and a Prussian 1813-14 commemorative medal. It should come from the same family as the Order of Saint Henry & Legion of Honour bar I showed in post #493. Regards, Lars

Rudi, I have allways liked these French barrettes, this one is actually better than most - but could also fit into a collection somewhat North of you Gruss, Lars

Hello Eric. Posting a Golden Fleece here would be VERY as this is an Austrian Order and this part of the forum is for Imperial German miniatures. But if the moderator is well asleep and having in mind that both countries speaks german I could post a few from my collection, all in Gold and appr. around 1870-1900. Enjoy, regards, Lars

A little different comment, it seems that the two miniatures in the middle have been cut off at some time and others have been added later on. Those two could have been the ones that are there now or something completely different, you'll never know, once it could have been a completely different combination. So in my opinion a made up chain that would not fit into my collection because of the obvious uncertainty, but as it is a gift you should enjoy it and acknowledge the good faith in which is was given . Lars

Hello Demir. Glad you liked it and you're welcome to post it in your Medals Group. Regards, Lars

Hello Demir. It may be of your interest to see a high quality miniature of this order? And by high quality I mean high quality, 10+ grammes of solid 18K Gold, 22 * 40 mm, set with 25 + 1 small diamonds and the enamel of simply the highest quality. I'm afraid this is a rather bad scan that doesn't do the miniature justice in any way, but this is the best I have around and I cannot make a better one right now. PS - you wouldn't happen to have an old correct bow? Regards, Lars

Hi Nick, I was kidding, but then again, sometimes someone can produce the impossible when one least expect it ???? But I am still pleased with this chain, even without a name. Lars

All, thanks for the comments, was hoping for an ID of the man but knew this would probably be too optimistic. Seems I got the DD class right. Lars

OK, just got another chain with a nice set of Double Dragons, I believe it's a 1st type 2nd class set, but correct me if I'm wrong. Nick, would it be too much to assume that you can produce a picture of the wearer in a few seconds The chain seems untouched, would it be seen that a wearer would wear 2 Anna's and 2 Stanislaus', for example if he got several classes? Anyway, enjoy, Lars

Hello Nick, thanks alot for your help here. Regards, Lars

Hello All. Just bought some interesting miniatures, will be shown later when received. The Seller have this badge as well and would be happy to get it identified, I cannot help, but I'm sure someone here will know, Nick? Further, could anyone add a few words on assumed originality? Regards, Lars

Xtender, this is a fake, there were no 2nd class, you'll find a painted zink issue for enlisted men and a enamelled bronze one for officers. None were worn from a ribbon, both had a short needle on the reverse. Lars

Hi Paul. Thanks again. So it's possible, but I believe I will leave it here knowing it's possible and keep the group as a potential interesting thing. Research is not my strong side, esp. not going into a field far from here. Lars

Hello Mervyn and Peter. Thank you for your comments. Although I wouldn't have expected an "improvement" on a British miniature bar (thought things would be 100% straight there but would not be unexpected in a few other countries) I could buy the last theory. But would any of you know if it would be possible to get the 1887 Silver and the 1897 Gold Medal, my litterature says the Gold would be for the Royal family and I wouldn't expect an upgrade from "Non-Royal" to "Royal" but I'm a little unsure of how Royal should be defined here. Anyway, this group came together with a solid Gold 1897 miniature medal, so it's a benefit group if this would be the correct term? Regards, Lars

Nick, as you know I don't concentrate on full size decorations and thus I wouldn't be the best to determine autencity although I have held a good number of items in my hands and discussed those with other serious collectors. But I would easily have been fooled by a number of these you have shown. Would you say that all items in these posts are recent made copies or would some of them qualify as contemporary (old) pieces made for daily wear or as replacement for lost originals - and thus just not official Chancelley/Chapter issued examples? It is widely known that replacement examples have been made in France, Germany, Italy, the Scandinavian countries etc., I have had a number of proven contemporary made items myself. Some shown here would be obvious fakes, others would actually resemble proven period replacement items. Lars

Regarding Imperial Russian miniatures you could also have a look at these old posts which I wrote several years ago, since then these types have been sold at various auction all over the world. http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/36523-imperial-russian-miniature-decorations/ The same dealer had in the coming years been lucky with his purchases again and again and have also traded these (have unfortunately lost alot of pics) ....

I was just browsing through some notes and found these pages from an old Sothebys catalogue, must be more than 20 years ago. Those were the days where excellent miniatures would appear in quantities What should be noted here is the miniature Elephant on the chain in the second pic, if anyone would see a vague similarity with my avatar this is correct. The chain was bought by an American dentist who wanted the Russian miniatures only, so he erased a piece of history and the Elephant came my way through some collector friends. Sometimes it's OK to split groups The Russian ones appeared in a later Spink auction on a chain mixed up with some other added miniatures, but this is another story!

Hello All. I have had this miniature group for some time. I'm wondering if this is a possible combination? The first is a Gold (gilt) 1887 Jubileee Medal with a 1897 bar and the second is a Silver 1887 Jubilee Medal. Under which circumstances could a recipient get BOTH the Gold and the Silver 1887 Jubilee Medal? Or is this a made up group although is doesn't appear as such? Regards, Lars

Something newer and more common, just a delicate German miniature group with a Medal for Zeal on a Saint Anne ribbon ......

Indeed a very interesting variation, the normal seen miniatures would look like ...... normal miniatures: