France French Legion of Honor Question

[Bill Dienna]

Hello, Gents....

I cannot seem to find an answer to this question.

I have two Legions of Honor, knight class, in my collection, both from around the period of WW I or thereabouts. One is the "standard" size order. The other is NOT a miniature, but it is noticeably smaller than the standard decoration by about 1/3.

Does anyone know if there is any significance to this size difference?

Many thanks!

Bill

[Ed_Haynes]

Different manufacturers, different personal taste?

[Bill Dienna]

Different manufacturers, different personal taste?

I don't know, Ed.

The difference is so noticeable that I didn't think that it could be a manufacturers' variation. I mean, the smaller example is really about 2/3 the size of the standard example. It really is quite perplexing.

[Ed_Haynes]

These smaller LoH specimens have a long history. See recent M&E sales. I have always assumed these were smaller specimens (distinct from miniatures) made to serve a marker that wanted stylishly small medals, like the German "prinzen" stuff. Remember, in a system like most of continental Europe where the award is the piece of paper, you have to buy the medals on the open market and all the inventiveness of individualistic free-market manufacture is in play. We as collectors are left with the quandry as to what is a legitimate specimen and what isn't (unlike, say, the UK or USSR where all gongs are made centrally to standards and awarded as a tangible medal).