GM1

Initially it started as a private order of King Leopold II for Congo Free State, after it was included in the Belgian order system.

There is a specific topic on this order:https://gmic.co.uk/topic/3237-belgian-order-of-leopold-ll/

Best regards 

GM1

4 hours ago, v.Perlet said:

Hello Stuka f,

 

Nice medals. The medal that got my attention is the one with the blue and black striped ribbon.

What medal would that be and do you have a photo regarding the reverse?

 

Regards

v.Perlet

Silver medal of the Order of Leopold II. Seems a bilingual version, so 1951s and later.

best regards 

GM1

An order of Isabella the Catholic, in gold with gemstones 

More pictures 

1 hour ago, JohanH said:

There was a total of 28 Belgians that received the Commander 2nd class of the Swedish order of Vasa between 1940 and 1969. 

 

I have sent you an email so you can begin your research. 

That’s great @JohanH! Hopefully we are lucky in the research.

best regards

GM1

1 hour ago, VC89 said:

 

André Borné's book is usually seen as the bible of official Belgian decorations but is has some mistakes in it, as can be expected by the size of it's content (remeber that it was published in 1985, before the internet, digitalization of documents and easy acces to pictures of collectors).

 

The lions are one of those mistakes. There are just too many examples of encircled lions on the warcross (1914).

 

An other collector once told me that the cost of cutting the lions out were higher than just leaving them encircled. He believes that the cutout ones were the first model but changed during the war to the cheaper encircled ones. If this is true and there is no papertrail of the change it might explain Borné's error as well.

 

Kind regards,

Vincent

Thanks Vicent! Probably we’ll never know, but the fact that the cut out lions were more expensive sounds reasonable. Don’t know if in the royal decrees a description is given of the lions. 

Best regards 

GM1

1 hour ago, JohanH said:

Thanks.

 

I'll try to compile a list of Belgian recipients of the commander 2nd class to narrow down your search a little. 

Thatcher would be a great help @JohanH! 

27 minutes ago, JohanH said:

Hello!

 

Nice miniatures!

 

What color are the wings on the rosette on the Vasa order?

Gold - gold/silver - silver?

 

From the picture it looks like silver wings which would mean a commander 2nd class. 

 Hi Johan, 

the wings are completely silver ones.

I’ve found another miniature group with the Commander of the Order of Vasa in my collection. It belongs to a civil servant/diplomat of the era 1940-1960. I’ll try to attribute it. 
 

Best regards

GM1

Here a some of the war crosses in my collection: 

- 3 palms and 3 lions (belonging to an officer)

- 1 palm and 1 lion (also holds art. 4 with palm, being a great invalided soldier).

As you can see, the lions are different.
 

According the book of André Borné, and in his opinion, the cut out lions are for 1914-1918 while the encircled ones were used in 1940-1945. But as we can see in this topic, the encircled lions are also used on the 1914-1918 war crosses… any opinions or proofs of the use of the different lions are more than welcome!

Best regards,

GM1

Another miniature bar from my collection:

• Breast Star of the Saint Hermenegild Order
• Order of Military Merit with Red Distinction, Second Class Cross (1938-1975 General Franco Government)
• Order of Military Merit with White Distinction, Third Class Cross (1938-1975 General Franco Government)
• Order of Naval Merit with Red Distinction, Second Class Cross (1938-1975 General Franco Government)
• Medal of Suffering for the Fatherland (probably 1938-1975 General Franco Government)
• Military Medal of Morocco (1902-1931 Reign of Alfonso XIII), in silver for officers
• Campaign Medal 1936-1939, Frontline service (1938-1975 General Franco Government)
• Order of Isabella the Catholic, Knight's Cross
• Order of the Crown of Italy, Knight
• Military Order of Christ, Breast Star (1933-1974 – Portugal) (Grand Cross/Grand Officer)

Some miniatures in gold and one with diamonds. According to the hallmark (eagle’ head), French manufacture.

Bert hice contribution @speedytop! 

Another miniature chain of a Spanish diplomat:

• Order of Prince Henry (Portugal)
• Order of the Republic of Tunisia (Nishan al-Al-joumhouriyya)
• Order of Cisneros
• Imperial Order of the Yoke and the Arrows
• Order of Civil Merit
• Old Guard Medal
• Order of Isabella the Catholic
• Bene Merenti Jubilee Year 1950 (Vatican)
• Order of the Crown of Italy
• Order of the German Eagle
• Order of Civil Merit of Syria (a hybrid version when compared to the official one)
• Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella (Dominican Republic)

More pictures of Kinzelbach

1 hour ago, larsb001 said:

I would have very few from Spain!

 

 

Lovely chains! ??

A nice contemporary exemplar @Hugh! I think that nowadays the button type is issued when it is an individual miniature. But you need a buttonhole of course! It is easier to attach and also cheaper than using a “pasador”. 
 

regards

GM1

On 19/10/2021 at 13:04, GM1 said:

Another miniature chain, with the Order of the Sword.

 

Best regards,

 

GM1

This miniature chain is attributed to Luitenant General Karl von Kinzelbach (1860 - 1919) from the Royal Wurtemberg army.

Another miniature set:

• Order of Naval Merit with Red Distinction, First Class Cross (1902-1931 Reign of Alfonso XIII)
• Order of Military Merit, Silver Cross for troops with White Distinction, (1902-1931 Reign of Alfonso XIII): comes from a set that included the orders in "normal" size that did carry this cross.
• Order of Military Merit with White Distinction, First Class Cross (1938-1975 General Franco Government)

A republican miniature clasp attributed to captain Adolfo Hercules de Solas y Patudo de la Rosa (18/19/1879 - 30/06/1935):

- Naval Merit Cross with white distinction

- Cross of Military Merit with red distinction

- Cross of the Royal and Military Order of  Saint Hermenegild (award to military constancy)

- Naval Merit Cross with red distinction

Cheers

GM1

All the miniatures have the typical republican crown

I'm starting this topic to share Spanish miniature medals and orders. Please feel free to upload images of the miniatures in your collection.

The following miniature bar consists of:

• The Royal and Military Order of Saint Ferndinand: Simple Gold Cross 1st Class: distinguished services of chiefs and officers, according to the regulation of July 10, 1815
• The Royal Amercian Order of Isabella the Catholic
• The Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III

These miniatures are from the period 1820-1830, are enameled and have hand-painted centers.

Best regards,

GM1

In my case I already had the name of the recipients and contacted directly the Chancellery for LdH for confirmation. They also manage the Order of Merit. Be aware that for orders given to foreigners there is no paper file available, only the date of concession.  
 

Best regards

GM1

A knight version of the Order of the African Star, with three hallmarks: 900, AR and the manufacturer (I suppose). 
The reverse as blue email instead of the red.

The ribbon has paper glued to it, as if the order was attached on the diploma.

best regards,

GM1

Gold, silver and bronze medal of the Order of the African Star. The gold medal has a silver palm for acts of bravery during WW1. The bronze medal is a miniature and was previously an exemplar of the Order of the Crown (as stated in previous entries). 
 

Cheers

GM1

Details of the bronze medal

A Knight of the Order of Leopold with swords (military version).

Manufactured by J.G. Dutalis in Brussels between 1832 and 1835 (being the first official contract for the order).

It has the typical “Spanish” crown, influenced by the Order of the Bath.

There are visible quality marks for silver (a sword) and of the manufacturer (a D with a flame above).

Both centers are made of gold. 

Best regards

GM1

Thanks for the explication! @Graf! Very illustrating!

best regards

GM1