France Help with group of miniatures

[palencia]

Hi,

I have found this interesting photo of a group of minuatures, and though I believe

that I have recognized (with great effort) three of them, I cannot find the others

2nd: Order of st. John of Acre and st. Thomas (http://www.ord-sgast.it/storia.htm)

4th: Officier of the French Academy of Arts, Sciences and Letters

6th: Order of Artistic Education (France)

any idea about the others?

[William Bryk]

Hi,

I have found this interesting photo of a group of minuatures, and though I believe

that I have recognized (with great effort) three of them, I cannot find the others

2nd: Order of st. John of Acre and st. Thomas (http://www.ord-sgast.it/storia.htm)

4th: Officier of the French Academy of Arts, Sciences and Letters

6th: Order of Artistic Education (France)

any idea about the others?

The 3rd miniature is that of the Order of Lafayette, whose president-general is now LTC Bruce A. Laue of New York.

I believe that the 5th miniature is that of the Order of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem, based on some correspondence in my files from nearly twenty years ago, apparently in a rank comparable to Grand Cross, Grand Officer, or Commander.

Good luck in your research. It is an interesting group.

[922F]

Yes, the 5th miniature represents membership in the Order of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem. Based on the silver 'wings' behind the rosette, it is a commander's badge miniature. Sometime in the 1970s, the Rudolf Souval of Vienna company manufactured this insignia type. Perhaps other makers did too. The central design represents 3 loaves and 3 fishes; thus the concept of Christian religious bountiful sharing.

It existed {exists?} in 5 grades + a collar but with a variety of classes: Some had crown suspensions, some crossed swords suspensions, some both, some none---may have been a laurel or oak wreath suspension as well. Besides an officer badge for breast wear with a rosette on the ribbon, a pin-back 'officer cross' was available. The commander stars looked like the body was made from an altered or enlarged Azad Hind die--with different centers, naturally. The Order could be awarded with several different color ribbons to denote different things; I cannot remember the significance of or the exact colors. In the 1970s-80s, Souval could supply the insignia to anyone who had interest, for a price, of course.

Souval people reported it to be a distinction 'founded by the Archbishop of Canterbury" for award to CoE/Anglicans, and those supporting them, for various services, usually charitable work or 'good deeds'. In 1975, a CoE official attending an installation of the UK branch of the Order of St. John of Jerusalam in Sheikh Jarrah, Jerusalem wore this order's neck-badge. By the late 1980s, no CoE officials could supply information on the award -- it may have been allowed to lapse, replaced by another decoration or it may still exist.

An article on this Order was submitted to the "Medal Collector" [now JOMSA] in 1975-6 but apparently never appeared in print. The gist of the article appears above.

The first miniature in this group has been identified as any number of ephemeral awards including 'Order of St. John and St. Eugene', 'Order of the (Christian Crusaders?) of Tiberias', Order of St. Angelena', and others, I'm sure. However, I've seen nothing definite in the literature or among specialists in the "ephemeral" world. Maybe someone like Stair-Sainty would have an idea.

All in all, this group [if not a 'put together' by someone with some loose miniatures] reflects membership in a number of family descent or 'charitable' organizations of a popular type.

Edited October 1, 2010 by 922F