GM1

You have some very nice pieces GM1, congrats!

One is a French made example, 2nd Empire period but maker is not entirely apparent (few name do come to mind though). The other one looks like early F. Heremans, perhaps even J. Heremans.

As to your ribbons with gold stripes, be very carefull since those are quite rare and often 'added' in order to increase the value. Only very keen eye can tell the difference and usually not with 100% accuracy. We can buy a lot of them in Belgium (probably made in the East anyway) currently (and I've been seeing them around for the last 10-15 years, in the past it was a rarity on the marked (even in Belgium) . Look for tarnished gold threads (gilding on those will often go dark with age), also ribbons that are very purple do not look good to my eye. Your crosses are of different manufacturers and periods, having identical looking ribbons is not a good sign (not in my humble opinion anyway). I've been 'stung' by those in the past in the Commander level - that did not come cheap either.

Great aclaration! Indeed I always thought that the ribbons were looking too new. Can you date the jewels approximately? I have a knight Order Leopold II with golden ribbon, which I suppose is more authentic, as you almost can't see the woven. Although off-topic i'll post it here.

Many thanks!

GM1

Second one is most likely by Fernand Heremans, definitely not Fonson.

Thanks a lot!

Best regards,

GM1

Looks like a very late example, not likely by Buls (possibly Wolfers or Heremans) - look at the super flat lion.

Thanks for the aclaration. I thought it was Buls because of similarity on page 115 of the Book: 175 ans de l'Ordre Léopold & les Ordres Nationeaux Belge by Cmd. Pat Van Hoorebeeke (2007, ISBN 2-87051-040-3)

GM1

With regard to the black bar and the wearing by mothers of their deceased sons' medals - in the Belgium thread, subject the Commemorative medal of WW1, there is some discussion of this, and a photo of a mother wearing her son's medals http://gmic.co.uk/in...-war-1914-1918/ post #20

Hope this helps.

Bill

Thanks Bill for the information!

Best regards,

GM1

You can notice the beautiful patina. The medal has been worn, because of the difference in color of the ribbon.

Close-up's:

The maritime french version, I belief it is very difficult to find it in any class.

A close-up of the crown:

I hereby present you the insignia (button-type) for belgian agents belonging to the intelligence services during 1914-1918. This insignia (created by royal decree of january 13th, 1922) was awared to civilians that didn't obtain belgian condecorations proposed by the National Committee for Reckognistion. This insignia was sent by the minister of defence to those people with an accompanying letter that at the same time was the diploma.

There is a silver crown imbedded in the concentric circles with the belgian colors. The diameter of the juwel is 22,5 mm.

Hope you like it!

Best regards,

GM1

Very nive pieces. In fact, the swords are smaller than usual. Difficult to date anyhow.

Another Russian medal to Belgians - Tolstoi medaille

Nice medal with suspension. Below 2 examples of my collection. The big one is a silver medal without suspension, bilingual (French-Russian), and the small one is with suspension and only in Russian.

Comments are more than welcome.

Regards,

GM1

This is the English version, edited in 1917 by George H. Doran Company, New York.

And reverse:

That's also a very nice one ! Officer model. Sometimes the rozette has also the golden line woven in it.

2 Military versions of my collection: 1 with "A"-palm and another with crossed swords for veterans, both of WW1. Note that the crossed swords version is only French, while most of them are bilingual (because most of them were at lease second promotion, conceded after 1952).

Can anybody identify the manufactures?

Best regards,

GM1

Hello,

the black stripe means posthumous award, members of the family are not allowed to wear this order for their sons, fathers, etc.

Anyway - really nice pieces. Leopold with 2 golden stripes is rarely seen

Do you know who is the manufacturer of the order with 2 golden stripes? The first one is Wolfers and the second possible Fonson?

Bagramjan

If I'm not mistaken, according to Act of May 17th 1920, mothers were allowed to to wear the distinctions of their sons who where killed, placing this attibrute, but any other distinction had to be removed. When the mother died, heritage comes into play, but nobody could wear the distinctions anymore. Is this correct?

I'm sorry but I don't know the manufacture of the second medal. I'll look for some marks.

Best regards,

GM1

Some close-up's:

Thanks, TacHel!

Here's another version, made by BULS.

Hello,

This is my first post on this site. Enclosed 2 civilian version for wartime efforts, one with the black attribute for mothers wearing the Order of their sons.

Any comment is more than welcome.

Best regards

GM1