Unknown Epaulettes made by Moritz Tiller

[donkeykong15]

Hi,

I have posted in this section as I now feel these Epaulettes are more related to the Austro-Hungarian empire rather than imperial Germany. (Thanks to help from some of you!)
They have what I now believe to be a Maltese cross on a little button and stitched onto the epaulettes.
The button has the following makers on reverse; "M.TILLEN & CO HOFLIEFERANTEN WIEN".

After some research, I have found the maker as Moritz Tiller and that they produced uniforms for the Royal family?

Any help at all would be brilliant!

Many thanks

[Trooper_D]

Thanks for posting these, Donkeykong15.

These are the epaulettes of the uniform of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Compare them with this image from Wikipedia,

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Epaulettes_Sovereign_Military_Order_of_Malta.jpg

This image, from saleroom.com, gives a better view of the button (go to the link below and click on the image shown on the linked page for a full size version),

Source: http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/czerny-international-auction-house-ltd/catalogue-id-srcz10002/lot-89e102fc-105f-4cbe-91b5-a44200cbc006

Edited June 21, 2016 by Trooper_D

[donkeykong15]

Hi,

many thanks for your reply. They do look similar.  The only thing that is puzzling me though is why the button maker would be from Vienna? 

Someone has suggested they could be Epaulettes from the Knight of the order of St. John. 

[Markgraf]

Tiller Mór (Moritz Tiller is a germanized form) was a Hungarian industrialist, one of the greatest uniform-supplier of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. Besides the AH royal warrant of appointment he had a same appointment of the Serbian Kingdom and the Persian Empire. Moreover he made uniforms and equipment nearly all of the AH uniformed services, and some foreign armies too.

[Trooper_D]

4 hours ago, donkeykong15 said:

Someone has suggested they could be Epaulettes from the Knight of the order of St. John. 

This is correct. The Order of Malta's full title is the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta. It is no surprise that this epaulette should be made in Vienna as there were, and are, many knights in Austria who would have had their uniform made locally.

[donkeykong15]

Thank you all for your help.