Austria-Hungary Identification help, possibly Austrian

[JBFloyd]

Possibly Austrian, but not in any of the sources I've checked. Anyone have an accurate identification for this one (the reverse is blank).

[Mike Dwyer]

Jeff,

I don't know if it's real or not, but that's the cross of The Teutonic Order of Saint Mary of Jerusalem, commonly called the Teutonic Order, which used to be an Order of Chivalry, but is now a regligious order of nuns, monks, and priests of the Catholic Church. There is still a small corps of supporters from among Germanic nobility who get to wear some type of insignia, but I don't believe they rank as knights any longer.

[Josef Rietveld]

Hi Jeff,

the shown cross is a Halskreuz des Hoch- und Deutschmeisters, a neckcross for the grand (high)master of the teutonic order. You can find it in the marko-catalogue at Number 170. It is very rare RRR and should be made of gold. i remember that such a cross was sold at the dorotheum in vienna some years ago but unfortunately i'am not able to find it. i also know that there exist welldone copys of this award.

regards

josef

[Josef Rietveld]

the copy was sold fpr 400 Euro in the dorotheum on 1st December 2004. I can send you a Black&White picture of this piece if necessary.

josef

Edited July 15, 2008 by Josef Rietveld

[JBFloyd]

Many thanks for the information. This one is a copy, but quite well made.

[Elmar Lang]

Hello,

two crosses of this identical type, copies of a XVII-XVIII Century insignia of Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, were sold at K?nker (Osnabr?ck, Germany) less than one month ago.

They're well made, and a good substitute of an almost imposible to find piece.

Best wishes,

Enzo