Miniature group - identity of of owner?

[JBFloyd]

Here's an interesting little miniature chain:

1. PLM, peace class

2. Gold Medal of the Institute of British Architects 1837

3. Prussia Red Eagle

4. Bavaria Merit Order of St. Michael

5. Saxony Albert Order. without swords

6. Wurttemburg Order of the Wurttemberg Crown

7. Vatican Order of St. Gregory the Great (missing the center)

8. France Legion of Honor, second Empire

The Legion of Honor has slid away from its original position, so there's no missing award between it and the Vatican order.

For Rick and the identification gurus, is there a way to identify the recipient of this one. With this group, he was more than a bratwurst salesman.

[Mike Dwyer]

That is one truly sweeeeeeet mini-chain!!!!!

[Daniel Cole]

Candidate:

Friedrich August St?ler, Germany

He Had the Peace PLM in 1858 and the Gold Medal of the Institute of British Architects

Dan

[Daniel Cole]

Another Candidate:

Friedrich Wilhelm Freiherr von Schmidt

PLM - 1880

Gold Medal - 1872

Who knows? But very nice indeed.

[Daniel Cole]

A third candidate:

Jacques Ignace Hittorff

Gold Medal: 1855

PLM: 1854

[Daniel Cole]

If I had to bet, I'd wager on Stuler as he was a German and predominace of German decorations. Von Schmidt was Austrian and Hittorf French. Assuming one can trust what one reads online.

I'll be curious if I'm close or way off.

[JBFloyd]

Stuler would certainly fit. Apparently he designed a number of major churches and bell towers, which could be connected with the Lateran Cross. Plus, his timing is right - 1800-1865.

Many thanks for the help.

[922F]

"Liliac" Red Eagle and 2nd Empire LoH? If so, may KO {knock out!} Austrian von Schmidt on likely bestowal date range. Think you mean St. Greg rather than Lateran Cross, eh Jeff? As to Jacques, sure of Franco-Saxony & Bavaria connections but Wurt? Unless a special bell needed a tower? Tend to agree Friedrich August St?ler held these awards. However, one never knows! Edited December 13, 2007 by 922F

[webr55]

That is really a once-in-a-lifetime chain. It certainly belongs to a German, most likely Prussian. We can rule out Schmidt and Hittorf. Judging from the Internet list of Royal Gold medal winners, there are only two candidates:

- Friedrich August St?ler

AND

- Karl Richard Lepsius (1810-1884), very prominent archaeologist. He got the Royal Gold medal in 1869 and the PLM in 1872.

Both were Protestants, so I think they would only have got the Vatican order if there were a special reason for it. My feeling is that this is rather the case for Lepsius, because he was apparently president of the German Archaeological Institute in Rome from 1867?1880. He travelled both to Rome and Paris a number of times.

Also, I think St?ler would have had even more Prussian (esp. dynastic) awards, because he had very close connections to the Prussian king, having designed the rebuilding of the Hohenzollern castle in Hechingen, for example.

Edited December 13, 2007 by webr55

[JBFloyd]

"Think you mean St. Greg rather than Lateran Cross, eh Jeff?

Yep, St. Gregory. The Lateran Cross was on the second mini group I'm trying to sort out.

Two groups + one brain = overload

[Daniel Cole]

I missed Lepsius. I was looking for architechs only.

[Guest Rick Research]

Is that the "oops" Albert with the incorrect bearded profile of The Wrong Albert, 1851-75?

I don't have the Rolls that far back.

I'm amazing you Google Folk miraculously turned up some listing fo the bRitish Medal!!!!