JBFloyd

Many thanks for that.  It's been sitting in my "mystery" box for too long.

A small star (48mm), unmarked, with some enamel repairs on the upper arm, but what is it?

Thank you both for the insights.

Silver-gilt and enamel breast star (49mm). By its construction, I'd say it's German-made, but unmarked.  It matches nothing I've ever seen (or maybe it has fallen off the edge of the memory). Is this a Johanniter variant, a wannabe, an obscure star worth millions, or maybe just the figment of somebody's fertile imagination?

Any help/guidance/merciless mocking would be appreciated.

GreyC,

Thank you for the update and location data. The quest continues.

Thank you all for your input. I thought the uniform might be key. Now to find a lions-head keeper device somewhere.

This badge came to me with a vague identification as a "Customs Officer's Badge". It's oval, silver, 55x46mm, unmarked, with a chain attached. The reverse has a spoon device for attaching to the uniform. More clues will follow momentarily,

Here's an image of an individual wearing a similar badge. I've also included an image of the note on the back of the photo. I know little of this kind of insignia and I'm 40 years out of date in reading German handwriting of the 1916 era.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

Can anyone identify this one?  It's gilt and enamel, 77mm, with a very flimsy pin. It's impressed "West/Germany" below the pin-catch.

Many thanks. That was on my short list of guesses.

The central device has the arms of Copenhagen, but no further information.  It's marked on the reverse by Sporring.  What is it?

Owain,

Thank you for the help on this.  

Jeff

Graham,

Thanks.  Perhaps the round pendant is the medal of the Noble Order.

I think I slept through my  Bukharan history classes in college, so I'll now have to go back for a refresher course.

Jeff

I'll answer part of the question myself and say that these are from Bukhara, but precise identification seems hazy so far.

Labelled as "Samarkand Merit Medals", but I've found nothing at all about them.  Any info out there?

I've sent an email to Alpera, so maybe some information will be available.

Thanks to JapanX for increasing my Lithuanian cultural literacy.

Certainly possible, Paul.  Now I'll have to learn Lithuanian to search the web for manufacturers.

It's Lithuanian, but is it a national award, local award, third prize in a cow-milking contest, or what?

I've acquired a nice little Korean Order of Diplomatic Service Merit second class breast star. However, it measures 30mm at its widest point.  I'm used to seeing miniature breast stars from Spain, but I've not even seen a reference to one from Korea.  

Any ideas?

Laurentius,

Thanks for the information.  That goes along with the rest of the history of this breast star.

Gentlemen,

I'd be interested in comments on the illustrated breast star. My expertise with such things is long outdated, although I don't ever recall seeing a maker's mark like this. The star weighs 78.1 grams.

This came to me along a tortured path.  My investment in it is only some time, so I have no real expectations.

I can't add anything definitive to this discussion, but in researching other Brazilian awards, this one is often connected to the Geographical Society of Brazil.

I missed this on your site initially.  In looking more carefully at the piece, I can see where the palms have been removed/fallen off.

Many thanks,

Jeff Floyd

Many thanks.  That is far more information than I had before.

This small breast star came with two other ephemeral order stars, but I have never seen this one before.   Any ideas?

Can anyone tell me the significance of the red, rather than blue, surround on this Maria Cristina Order?