Egypt Khedivate Judge's Badge question

[Rusty Greaves]

I have found a couple photographs of storefronts of Rudolf Stobbe (one of the manufacturers of Mixed Court badges) that I just encountered on the Great Egypt website (https://www.greategypt.org/2023/05/rudolf-stobbe.html). The short descriptive text associated with these two photos identifies Rudolf Stobbe as a native of Graudenz, at the time a province of Prussia (following WWII it became part of Poland). Stobbe studied in important jewelry workshops in Berlin, Paris, and Vienna and emigrated to Egypt in approximately 1880 at the age of 28. Much of his early jewelry copied Ancient Egyptian motifs, principally in gold and precious stones. He eventually developed a reputation for himself, and created his own modern works in gold, silver, and stones. Like most bijouterie in Egypt, Stobbe also imported European-made watches for sale at his storefronts (see the following description from a 16 May, 2011 sale by Christie's of a rare A. Lange & Söhne minute repeating clock watch sold to R. Stobbe in Alexandria, Egypt, on 27 April 1911 for the amount of 2210 marks, which was engraved in Arabic on the dial to the client Ahmed Kheir Bashi: https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5431070). 

 

 

This photograph is identified as: "Rudolf Stobbe's premises in Alexandria". This should be the 29 rue Chérif Pasha, Alexandria address. Note the storefront sign that identifies the founding date of Maison Stobbe as 1885. This locations was Stobbe's first workshop in Egypt.

 

 

The above image is captioned on the Great Egypt website as: "The Premise of Rudolf Stobbe, Opera Square, Cairo". The text associated with this entry in Great Egypt states that the Cairo workshop at the Place de l'Opéra and storefront was opened in 1904. That source also identifies Stobbe as employing "30 specialists and eight native workmen". Apparently this location was managed by a Mr. Sheffield. The individual in the doorway may be Rudolf Stobbe (although the portrait below shows him with less head hair) or perhaps Mr. Sheffield

 

                   

 

Undated portrait photo of Rudolf Stobbe, also from the Great Egypt website (https://www.greategypt.org). This portrait comes from an unspecified 1909 report on European and Egyptian businesses and their founders in Egypt.

 

 

Edited January 19 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

I was recently contacted about an alleged Mixed Courts badge offered for sale to a customer visiting Cairo. I do not wish to name the shop as the owner has been very professional in addressing my concerns about the authenticity of this particular badge. The badge illustrated in low-resolution images below appears to me to be a chimera of a possible original Froment-Meurice rayed embellishment, a highly unusual central component with the mantle design element, and possibly an original central calligraphic tablet from one of the 4 unidentified manufacturers of these badges. 

 

   

 

Low-resolution image of the obverse of this problematic badge. Although it is hard to see many details of this badge, several anomalies are readily apparent in the mantle component. The most obvious design oddity is the very parallel depiction of the folds in the superior portion of the mantle extending from the inferior margin of the crown laterally to the corners tied with tasseled cords. These are 4 parallel folds on each side, quite unlike the more irregular fabric folds seen on this portion of the mantle drapery even in the least detailed versions of these badges. Also note that the tassels on the right corner are approximately the same length, with the lateral tassel resting just a little lower than the medial tassel. All Froment-Meurice, Stobbe, Horowitz (except the one very odd "pin" form inspired by the Mixed Courts badge shown most recently in 2 examples shown in my 7 April , 2022 post on this thread), the one example by D. Ialanos, A. de Leon, & A. Kassandinos of Alexandria, and all the unmarked badges and those by unknown manufacturers have the rightmost lateral tassel situated slightly above the right medial tassel. The only exception are the badges made by Zivy Fréres & Cie where they also are the same length. Additionally, the thick frame around the central calligraphic tablet is not present on any other Mixed Courts badges by any maker. Quite noticeably, it appears there is no texturing of the interior of the mantle that is designed to indicate fur, with some ermine tails placed on the interior as well. Although the photo is not good enough resolution to see the background in detail, there is no indiction of any texturing. Additionally only 7 ermine tails are present, all in the lower portion of the mantle interior lateral to the proximal branch ends of the oak and laurel branches, and around the Order of Medjidie emblem. No ermine tails are present in other portions of the mantle, as are seen in all other Mixed Courts badge examples. Although difficult to compare details about these ermine tails, even in these photos they appear quite different, like stylized cylinders with apparent small knobs on each, most at the inferior end and some at the superior ends of each tail. 

 

                        

 

Another view of the obverse of this same badge. unfortunately also a low-resolution photo. The form of the calligraphy has a distinctive variations in the form of the the script of the uppermost siin that is uniquely configured on this and 3 other examples I illustrated as the 24th-27 photos in my post of 6 September, 2021 on this thread. It is likely that this is an authentic central tablet from another of these unmarked and currently unknown manufacturers of Mixed Courts badges. Again, note the anomalous thick frame around the central tablet. If this image is zoomed, there may be some visibility of the thin outline of the tablet as seen on all other badge, The uncommon form of the calligraphy makes me suspect this is more likely an original component than one copied from other badges (where different calligraphy is much more frequently seen than this minor variant with the unusual form of the uppermost siin character). Although slightly better visible in the previous photo, several design details are less skillful crafted and detailed on the mantle element of this badge. The tughra in the Order of Medjidie looks particularly small and anemic, and comparisons of the oak and laurel leaves and the distal ends of the tugs also show much less detailed execution than most examples. This mantle component is  distinctly different and less intricately executed than even on the least detailed authentic  badges' workmanship: the 2 examples of badges made by Zivy Fréres & Cie. (shown in my posts of 24 April, 2019, and 22 February, 2023 on this thread) and the 2 cast versions made by D. Ialanos, A. de Leo, & A. Kassandrinos (shown in my post of 3 February, 2022).

                      

 

Low-resolution image of the reverse of this same badge. The rayed embellishment marked with the Froment-Meurice name may be a genuine component. However, no aspects of the mantle element match the workmanship of any other Froment=Meurice badges. The form of the calligraphy on the central tablet also is unlike that seen on any marked or suspected Froment-Meurice badges. Additionally, the workmanship associated with the body of the authentic badges with this same calligraphic version of their tablets also is completely unlike any example that can reasonably be attributed to Froment-Meurice. This combination of the 3 pieces that form this badge shows no conformation with any known single maker. As noted, the mantle element is dissimilar to all other badge examples, including those that are among the 4 unidentified manufacturers. It is the anomalous individual elements that make me suspect this represents a modern chimera assembly from three unassociated pieces. 

 

 

Edited January 19 by Rusty Greaves

[oamotme]

Rusty,

Thank you for sharing this image. I agree that it doesn't look right. Of course a hands on viewing would be ideal but with such badges, and indeed all collectors items, a cautious approach is recommended. Whilst the image of the reverse may pass muster, the obverse image depicts a less than perfect example of the badge. Caveat emptor.

Owain

[Rusty Greaves]

Interestingly (although depressing), a badge like the one I recently illustrated in my post here of 16 January, 2024 that was offered by a jeweler in Cairo, Egypt was just sold at a 16 December, 2023 auction (Lot 0165) by Antique Arena Inc. in Brooklyn, NY. The listing is archived on the liveauctioneers website (https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/166660205_antique-egyptian-suez-canal-grand-insignia-of-a-judge). High-resolution photos were included in that listing, identifying this as an “Antique Egyptian Suez Canal Grand Insignia of a Judge”. Its’ materials are stated to be silver and vermeil. The dimensions are given as approximately 3 7/8 x 2 3/4 in (98.425 x 69.85 mm) and it weighs 112 g. The size of this badge is too small compared with the sizes of Froment-Meurice badges and the similarly larger sizes of badges made by all other makers as well (Rudolf Stobbe, Wolf Horovitz, Zivy Frères & Cie., D. Ialanos, A. de Leo & A. Kassandrinos, and including badges representing 4 additional as yet unidentified manufacturers). Most authentic badges range between 112-118 mm in height and 85-90 mm in width. The smaller size of the Antique Arena example also results in the much lighter weight of this badge. All badges for which weights have been published in auction descriptions range between 141.76 to 173.05 g, with a single heavier outlier of a Zivy Frères vermeil badge at 290 g. I have included below 3 photos that show the supposed “FROMENT-MEURICE” maker’s mark on the reverse of the Antique Arena badge that also is anomalous. In my previous 16 January post I suggested the rayed embellishment on that badge might be original. However, I obviously did not look at the lack of rivets in the photo provided, and maybe the angle makes it less clear that the proportions of the maker's name to the overall badge size were odd. The measurements in the Antique Arena description and the photographs show this is a solid cast piece lacking the 3-part construction seen on all other Mixed Courts badges. There are many examples of the workmanship of Maison Froment-Meurice who originally designed this insignia for the Mixed Courts. They represent the highest quality examples of these badges. As with the piece I illustrated above in my post of 16 January, the execution of all aspects of this Antique Arena badge is quite odd and glaringly inconsistent compared with any other bonafide examples of the Mixed Courts badges by Froment-Meurice or any other manufacturer. The attribution to Maison Froment-Meurice is impossible because of the large number of anomalous design and execution differences compared with the many online images of unquestionable examples of that maker’s work. These images are of higher quality than those I received from Egypt and allow comparisons of the details of this faked badge with other examples on this thread. The appearance of this example and that from Egypt makes me suspect recent work by someone getting at least of a few of these poor copies onto the market.  

 

 

Above is a high-resolution image of the obverse of the Antique Arena badge showing clearly the many anomalous design elements and workmanship of this badges. The image can be zoomed for more unpleasant surprises. The obverse of this badge exhibits many casting defects such as pinholes, misruns (i.e., the medial cord on the left tassel attachment to the mantle corner, and the cord on the medial tassel on the right corner), flash, and vein defects, unambiguously indicating it is not struck. The inconsistencies in design and workmanship compared with real Froment-Meurice made regalia that I noted in my 16 January 20204 post are much more evident in this high-resolution image. As I do not believe this badge is authentic, I am uninterested in cataloguing the design and manufacturing anomalies. I no longer think the central tablet may be original, but the calligraphy is copied from an uncommon form seen on 5 unmarked badges shown in this thread that are not identified yet with any manufacturer. I will confirm that there is no texturing indicating fur on the interior of the mantle, the ermine tails are mere lozenge suggestions, the “fringe” on the mantle is only executed as texture dots (as are the tassels) rather than as detailed yarns, the frame around the central tablet is unevenly and poorly executed, and the "tugra" inside the Order of Medjidie element is a shapeless excrescence. 

 

 

 

Above are two high-resolution photos of the reverse of the Antique Arena badge that also shows several aspects of the workmanship that indicates this is not an authentic Froment-Meurice badge. One of the most glaring anomalies is the proportion of the “FROMENT-MEURICE” mark on the reverse to the overall badge size. This mark is clearly too large compared with the proportions of the maker’s marks on genuine Froment-Meurice badges. Note the lack of rivets that hold the 3-part construction in place on authentic FM badges, and used by all other makers. Additionally, small defects (blowholes, pinholes, veins, and possibly flash) can be seen that also indicate this badge was cast. While a cast Mixed Courts badge I came across online made me initially suspect it was a more recent copy, the appearance of a second with its case marked with the manufacturer made me change my mind that it was likely the work of a manufacturer (Union de Graveurs, D. Ialanos, A. de Leo & A. Kassandrinos, Alexandria) producing a more economical badge for judges and other court officials (see my post of 3 February, 2022). Those 2 cast badges do exhibit rivets holding the 3-piece construction together, and a higher level of craftsmanship than is evident on the Antique Arena badge. In this case, the attempt to mark a cast badge as the work of Froment-Meurice with such glaring design inconsistencies is clearly just fraud. 

 

 

 

For comparison within this post, above are high-resolution images of the obverse and reverse of an authentic Émile Froment-Meurice badge. This example is from a 19 June, 2022 auction by Helios Auctions (Auction #33). This is a cropped version of the copyrighted image on the invaluable.com website (https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-rare-ottoman-empire-egypt-judges-badge-by-frome-2d040dba00, ©Invaluable LLC.), the listing is also archived on the liveauctioneers.com website (https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/130336279_a-rare-ottoman-empire-egypt-judge-s-badge-by-froment-meurice). I previously illustrated and described this badge in my post on this thread of 19 June, 2022.  

 

 

Close-up of the stamped lettering of the alleged “FROMENT-MEURICE” maker’s mark on the Antique Arena badge. This shows forms of the letters that are much less carefully executed than those punched on genuine badges from that atelier. It is common for there to be variability in punches as they wear out and new ones are made, so that maker’s marks will show slight differences. However, this appears to be an example of a less carefully made punch that has thicker letters and greater crowding of several letters than seen on genuine examples. In addition to many visible blowholes and pinholes, this photo shows vein defects from casting, running downward from between the “EU”, and between the “CE” in “MEURICE”. Also note the parallel scratches in the margins of the recessed panel, possibly representing removal of flash or to make this piece appear more worn (also visible in the other 2 images of the reverse of the Antique Arena badge shown above).      

 

 

Above is a high-resolution image of the reverse of the badge from the 19 June, 2022 auction by Helios Auctions showing the "FROMENT-MEURICE" maker's mark on a genuine badge. This image can be zoomed for comparison with the Antique Arena badge's reverse. The letters are crisper and less crowded than shown on the Antique Arena example. 

 

 

Above is another example of an authentic Froment-Meurice mark, showing normal variation representing different wear on punches and imperfect or idiosyncratic strikes. (From an unsold example that has been offered on eBay for many years for a very high price and with some damage to the enamel on the central tablet inscription: https://www.ebay.com/itm/324752955655).

 

 

Above is an alternate form of the maker’s mark on a genuine Froment-Meurice badge. Several Badges exhibit a lower placement of the “FROMENT-MEURICE” mark below the two large rivets and the diamond-shaped symbol with the Froment-Meurice name and a central rose. From a badge attributed to a Greek official (judge?) with the Mixed Courts, Apostolo N. Gennaropolou, from an archived listing on the WorthPoint website of a 2014 eBay offering (https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ottoman-empire-egypt-khedivate-judges-982926374). 

 

 

Edited February 13 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

Below are high-resolution images of the commemorative medal celebrating 50 years of the revised Indigenous Courts in Egypt. I believe this "National", or "Indigenous", Court replaced the former Sharia Law Court and was part of the modernization of Egypt using the French legal code as the basis of law, including the creation of the Egyptian Mixed Courts (replacing the Consular Courts for foreigners) in 1875. I first illustrated an example of this commemorative medal in my post of 27 May, 2022 showing a Horovitz-made Mixed Court badge on a Facebook page of Charmy Photographic. Owain identified the badge and provided an illustration of it in his post on this thread of 28 May, 2022. The photos below are from a 13 February, 2024 auction (#61371, Lot 25230) by Heritage Auctions (https://coins.ha.com/itm/egypt/egypt-fuad-i-gilt-silver-judicial-justice-50th-anniversary-of-the-national-court-medal-1933-dated-unc-/a/61371-25230.s?type=DA-DMC-SixBid-WorldCoins-61371-02122024). Photos, and the description, from this auction also are archived on sixbid.com website (https://www.sixbid.com/en/heritage-auctions-inc/11548/egypt/10066052/fuad-i-gilt-silver-judicial-justice?term&orderCol=lot_number&orderDirection=asc&priceFrom&displayMode=large&auctionSessions=&sidebarIsSticky=false). All three of these images are copyrighted by Heritage Auctions (©2023 Heritage Auctions). Owain brought this auction to my notice, and deserves credit for seeing this offering of an uncommon medal.

 

 

High-resolution image of the obverse of this medal commemorating 50 years of the Indigenous Courts 1883-1933. In his identification of the medal, Owain felt that the bust of King Fuad 1 represented the obverse. The additional illustration of this medal I reported and illustrated in my post of 31 May, 2022 on this thread (from from pg 337 of Volume 2 of the 1937 publication of the civil codes: I Al-Kitab al-dhahabi l’il-mahakim al-ahliya, 1883-1933. Al-Matba’a al-Amiriyya bu Bulaq, The Golden Book of Civil Courts 1883-1933, published by the Government press [Amiri Press] in Bulaq) shows the pin on the ribbon visible on the face with Fuad's bust. The ribbon in the first illustration I posted of this with the Mixed District Courts badge shows no pin on the face with the royal coat-of-arms with the inscription on either side reading "50th Anniversary of the National (Indigenous) Court"scales of justice, bracketed by the dates 1883-1933, and the motto "Just is the Foundation of Kingship/Governance". These two Heritage Auctions photos also help identify the obverse and reverse of this medal. 

 

 

Reverse of the 50th Anniversary Commemorative medal celebrating 50 years of the Indigenous Courts. As in the publication page shown in my post of 31 May 2022 on this thread, this shows the pin on the ribbon on the face with the bust of King Fuad I. The Heritage Auctions listing identifies the diameter as 42 mm and the weight as 49.24 g. The auction listing identifies the material as gilt silver, however it seems unlikely these medals were gilt and are probably silver with the green enamel. No manufacturer of this commemorative medal has been identified in what literature I have been able to consult. 

 

 

The Heritage Auctions listing included a photo of the case lid for this medal (but this illustration is not on the Sixbid Archive of this listing). The lid has the cipher for Sultan Ahmad Fuad of Egypt that he used between 1917-1922. Afterwards, he became King Fuad I following the British announcement of "semi-independence" of Egypt from the Ottoman Empire but under continued practices essentially identical to the "protectorship" of Britain from 1882-1922. 

 

Edited April 1 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

The same February 13, 2024 auction by Heritage Auctions as that noted above (Auction 61371) offered a Mixed Courts badge made by Froment Meurice as Lot 25091 (https://coins.ha.com/itm/islamic-dynasties/ottoman-empire/islamic-dynasties-ottoman-empire-silver-judge-s-badge-nd-unc-/a/61371-25091.s?type=notice-winnernotification). This auction also is archived on the CoinArchives webiste as well (https://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=6772761&AucID=7878&Lot=25091&Val=bbbeaf5979a6dfc22b36228b8a1cfe68). The description identifies the badge as silver, gives a weight of 158.53 g, and gives its approximate dimensions as ~120 x 85 mm. The actual measurements of this badge are 118 x 88 mm. Owain also let me know about this offering by Heritage Auctions. 

 

 

High-resolution image of the obverse of the Heritage Auctions Mixed Courts badge (Lot 25091). This image, and the following photo of the reverse of the badge, are copyrighted by Heritage Auctions (@2023 Heritage Auctions). Although a bit hard to distinguish, this image does show that this is actually a silver and gold District Courts badge. Vermeil can be seen on the rayed embellishment, the fringe of the mantle, the "embroidered" design on the lateral folds of the mantle, the star above the central tablet, the cords and tassels tying each of the upper corners of the mantle, the central crown, each of the oak and laurel branches, the staffs and distal ornaments of the tugs, the small wreath around the Order of Medjidie element, and the central portion and tugra of the Order of Medjidie (also see the last photo in this post). 

 

 

High-resolution image of the reverse of the Heritage Auctions Mixed Courts badge. Note the tag underneath the tunic pin that reads "F.R." on a small handwritten paper tag glued to the reverse, presumably the original owner of this badge. The auction description notes that the associated case has a gilt (?) "F.R." on the outside of the upper lid. The reverse is marked "FROMENT-MEURICE" above the two large rivets, but there is no diamond-shaped hallmark with the rose and Froment-Meurice name on this badge. 

 

 

The case for the Heritage Auctions District Courts badge. The name "FROMENT-MEURICE" and the shop address at 372 RUE ST HONORÉ, PARIS' is printed in gold on the maroon satin of the interior case lid, above the red velvet bed for the badge. As noted, the outer upper lid also bears the initials "F.R." as seen on the tag affixed to the reverse of the badge. These initials appear to be written in black ink, not gilt. As this is a gold and silver District Court badge, it could only have belonged to a judge, not one of the other court functionaries who wore silver badges. The only judge I have been able to identify who is represented by these initials is the Spanish Judge Frédéric Rauret y Sugastres. He was known to go by Frédéric Rauret. Judge Rauret y Sugastres was named to the Mansourah District Court on 16 September, 1892, transferred to the District Court of Alexandria in 27 March, 1897, and was decommissioned due to health issues on 31 October, 1904. This places Judge Rauret y Sugastres within the period that Froment-Meurice made badges for the Mixed Courts (1875-1913). As his service on the Courts predates the February 1926 publication of the 50th anniversary volume Les Juridictions Mixtes d'Égypte 1876-1926 Livre d'or Édité sous le Patronage du Conseil de l’Ordre des Avocats á l’Occasion du Cinquantenaire des Tribunaux de la Réforme, par le journal des Tribunaux Mixtes. Alexandrie, Egypte, I am confident there is not another Egyptian or European judge with the F.R. initials who could have been the owner of this badge. 

 

 

Above is the only photo I have currently found of Judge Frédéric Rauret y Sugastres. This image comes from the George Sherman Batcheller, 1837-1908, Papers, 1825-1943, bulk, 1858-1908 (SC11218), in the New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections in Albany, NY, USA. This photo, taken in Egypt at an unspecified date, is curated in Box 10, Folder 27, and is identified as: "Rauret, Frederic (autographed); Photographer: Fettel & Bernard, Alexandria (Egypt)". I do not know what awards Rauret y Sugastres is wearing in this portrait. George Sherman Batcheller was a U.S. Civil War veteran and jurist who was recommended as a U.S. judge to the Egyptian Mixed Courts by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1875.  Batcheller was appointed to the District Court in Cairo on 10 November, 1875. He was decommissioned on 30 November, 1885. Batcheller was apparently re-appointed to the Courts in 1898, I am uncertain which Court he served at that time. He was promoted to President of the Appeals Court in 1902. Batcheller died while still technically still working for the Court, but died in Paris in 1908

 

 

The reverse of the studio card portrait of Frédéric Rauret y Sugastres identifying the Fettel and Bernard photo studio in Alexandria (New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections in Albany, NY, USA. This photo is in Box 10, Folder 27). 

 

 

The Heritage Auctions Mixed Courts badge was previously sold on 15 October, 2022 by Editions V. Gadoury, Auction 2022, Lot 225, archived on the NumisBids website (https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=6035&lot=225). The Gadoury auction illustrated the obverse of this badge (above in a moderate-resolution image) and provided a photo of it in the case (below), there is no image of the reverse of the badge. I previously included both of these Gadoury auction photos as the first two images in my post of 22 September, 2022 on this thread. No mention is made in the Gadoury description of the initials "F.R." on the case nor on the reverse of the badge. 

 

 

Moderate-resolution image of the the Gadoury Auction offering of the same Froment Meurice badge that belonged to Spanish Judge Frédéric Rauret y Sugastres. The distinctions between the silver parts of the badge design and those that are gilt are a bit better defined in the above photo. This image shows the noted damage to the front lower right corner of the case from impact with a right-angled item. 

 

 

Above is a moderate-resolution image of the Heritage Auctions Mixed Courts badge from Auction 61371, Lot 25091. This is a post-auction image that shows well the contrast between the silver and vermeil (gold) in the decoration of this badge. The gilt components on Froment-Meurice District Court badges are different on some other examples. On some badges, the central tablet and the rays around the star are also gilt, a few have the rayed embellishment around the Order of Medjidie gilt, and on a couple the "embroidery" design on the lateral mantle folds are not gilt, some show no vermeil on the oak and laurel branches, or the tugs. There are also differences in which portions of the design are gilt on District Courts badges by other manufacturers. 

 

Edited April 1 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

Antique Arena responded to an email I sent them about the problematic badge shown in my post here of 9 February, 2024. That badge sold for $1100 at auction. I did identify to them why I felt this is a poorly-cast fraudulent badge that could not have been made by Froment-Meurice. Antique Arena wrote me that "After the sale the lot was canceled and the item was returned to the consignor." So, good for them! 

Edited April 9 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

I have two portraits of unidentified individuals on the Mixed Courts to add and a few portraits of officials of the Indigenous Courts. Two of these image come from a lovely recent oversize publication with great photographic plates documenting photo studios in Egypt from the mid 19th century-the early mid 20th century: Sherif Boraïe (compiler and editor), Introduction by Youssef Rakha, 2021. A Face in Time: Egypt Photo Studios 1865-1939. Zeitouna, Dar el-Kutub (ISBN: 978 977 5864 32 1). 

 

 

Portrait of an unknown Mixed Courts official (judge?) from: Sherif Boraïe, 2021. A Face in Time: Egypt Photo Studios 1865-1939. Zeitouna, pg 85. The caption reads: "Albumen carte de cabinet, 13.5x21.5 cm. Dated 25 February, 1894. Fettel & Bernard, Alexandria." Credit = courtesy of Saamir Rabat. 

 

 

Undated photo of an unidentified Mixed Court official (judge?) showing fairly well the details of the sash decorative bow and metallic fringe. This particular sash is interesting as it appears to represent tricolored rather than the normal 2 colors (red and green). 134 x 193 mm. 

 

 

 

Close up of the studio name in the lower right corner of the above undated portrait. I have not unambiguously identified the name or location of this studio (the writing looks like "Vietoy"?). However my best inference is that is most likely Studio Victor whose location in Egypt is not specified (the Studio Victor name appears on page 10 in the introduction by Youssef Rakha to the Sherif Boraïe, 2021 volume cited above, but no image of the studio signature is shown in the two Police Academy group portraits attributed to Studio Victor on pp. 228-229, that are from the Pierre Sioufi collection). See the 2 next images below for additional views of the same studio signature. 

 

 

Undated image from a 2022 eBay offering (https://www.ebay.com/itm/313893059311?hash=item49157bfaef:g:lHQAAOSweBNiGr1U). This Egyptian official wears the an unusual sash with the dark center strip and two equal-sized bordering lighter stripes. The crescent and 3 stars (on some individuals greater or fewer numbers of stars, I do not yet know what those variations signify) are the insignia of the Indigenous Courts. This photo was identified as measuring 15 x 14 cm (?) and it appears to be a proof shot with "PROV Viatoy" (?)" - Victor? - written in the lower right of the photo (there is no mat). 

 

 

The same subject as in the above proof portrait shown here as a better photo on a mat, dated to 1952 and showing the same studio signature as on the 2nd photo in this post and in the above proof example (Victor?). From a 2022 eBay offering (https://www.ebay.com/itm/313893059311?hash=item49157bfaef:g:lHQAAOSweBNiGr1U). identified as an original print, 15 x 11 cm. 

 

 

Undated and unidentified image that appears to represent officials of the Egyptian Indigenous Courts showing a diversity of sashes and several individuals wearing sashes similar to that shown in the above portrait. I do not know which parts of the Indigenous Courts system had officials who more traditional garb with these kinds of sashes (see also the 22nd photo in my post of 6 April, 2020 on this thread showing a portrait of Indigenous Court official in a jellabiya and turban wearing a 3-striped sash with a crescent with 3 large stars above it, 3 smaller stars above those, and 3 smaller stars below the crescent. The 24th image in that post shows the same man in a modern office without his sash and insignia and the 25th shows him standing outside on a boardwalk, also without his sash. The above uncredited photo is from an article by Samy A. Ayoub, Institutional erasure: legal pluralism in colonial Egypt. Canopy Forum On the Inteactions of Law & Religion, February 23, 2022 (https://canopyforum.org/2022/02/23/institutional-erasure-legal-pluralism-in-colonial-egypt/). 

 

 

Group portrait of individuals of the Indigenous Court (an individual standing at the far left in the second row could not be included as scanning this image cut him off). From Sherif Boraïe, 2021. A Face in Time: Egypt Photo Studios 1865-1939. Zeitouna, pp. 234-235. The caption reads: "Judges of the court. Gelatin silver print. 29x38 cm. Photo Charles, Caire". Credit = the Pierre Sioufi collection. Other photos I have included on this thread also show that the Indigenous Court staff usually wore western-style jackets (see especially the 6th, 7th, 9th-14th photos in my post of 1 April, 2020) and few earlier images of them show the Egyptians wearing stambouline coats. The Indigenous Courts also went through renovations seen as modernizations in 1883 (see my post of 31 May, 2022 on this thread). 

 

Edited June 20 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

I was recently contacted by the grandson of Michael Hansson (19 November, 1875-5 December, 1944), an illustrious member of the Egyptian Mixed Courts whom I have mentioned several times on this thread. Arthur Hansson found me through searching for information about his grandfather’s Order of Ismail and Mixed Courts Court badge, and GMIC provided the identifications he was interested in and my contact information. We have corresponded over a number of topics related to his grandfather. He has generously provided photographs of his grandfather’s badge and permitted me to write about the it and present the photographs he sent to me. Mr. Hansson also gave me with a translated copy of his grandfather’s CV, and information about other awards he received, including the 1st Class Grand Cordon Order of Ismail.  

 

 

Above is my favorite photo of Michael Hansson showing him in his judicial regalia, taken in 1912 while he was serving as a judge and President of the Mixed District Court of Mansourah. I have previously used this image in my post of 3 May 2018 and as the 6th photo in my post of 18 April, 2019, both on this thread. I also have included this portrait in my post about Hansson on 9 December, 2019 on the thread “Question about the Order of Ismail/Nishan-al-Ismail” (in addition to a photo of him accepting the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the Nansen International Office for Refugees). Three additional photos of Michael Hansson are included as the 7th-9th photos in the 18 April, 2019 on this thread. Those images show him 1) as the President of the District Court of Mansourah 1911-1913 (7th photo, this is cropped from the 1907 image mentioned next); 2) with 9 other judges on the Court of Mansourah in 1907 (8th photo); 3) and as Vice-President of the Mixed Court of Appeals (9th photo, also shown below on this post). All three of those images were published in Les Juridictions Mixtes d'Égypte 1876-1926: Livre d'or Édité sous le Patronage du Conseil de l’Ordre des Avocats á l’Occasion du Cinquantenaire des Tribunaux de la Réforme, par le: Journal des Tribunaux Mixtes. Alexandrie, Egypte, Février 1926, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Mixed Courts.  The above photo of Michael Hansson comes from a biography of Hansson on the Norwegian biographical website Norske Biografisk Leksikon (https://nbl.snl.no/Michael_Hansson) of the Store Norske Leksiskon (Great Norwegian Lexicon) titled: “Michael Hansson som dommer i Al-Mansurah, 1912 Michael Hansson, Av Ukent/※. Lisens: Begrenset gienbruk" [Michael Hansson as judge in Al-Mansourah,1912, by Unknown {photographer}/License: Limited Reuse]. This portrait also is the 2nd photographic plate, opposite page 17, in Hansson’s posthumously published autobiography: Hansson, Michael. 1946. 25 År I Egypt (25 Years in Egypt), Forlagt Av H. Aschehoug & Co., Oslo.

 

 

Above is a high-resolution photo of Michael Hansson’s Judge’s badge in its case, still in the possession of his family. This photo, and the other 4 illustrated below, were provided by his grandson, Arthur Hansson. These images are copyrighted by Arthur M. Hansson. The badge was made by Rudolf Stobbe (it has Stobbe’s maker’s mark on the reverse, see below). The badge appears to be completely gilt, which would have been appropriate to his tenure on the Appeals Court from 1915-1931. The inside of the lid reads: “RUDOLF STOBBE, G.M.B.H., JOAILLERIE, ALEXANDRIE”. Given Hansson’s appointment to the Appeals Court in 1915, it is a fair assumption that this would be close to the date when he obtained this badge. This legend is different from the only other interior case lid for a Stobbe-made judicial badge I have seen, that of the Crabités badge (see the 1st and 5th photos in my post of 2 December, 2019 on this thread). The case for the Pierre Crabités badge (the badge is engraved with his appointment date of 19 June,1911) reads: “R. STOBBE, Joaillier, ALEXANDRIE, (L’EGYPTE)”. 

 

 

Above is a photo from the 1926 publication celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Mixed Courts, the Les Juridictions Mixtes d'Égypte 1876-1926: Livre d'or Édité sous le Patronage du Conseil de l’Ordre des Avocats á l’Occasion du Cinquantenaire des Tribunaux de la Réforme while Hansson served as Vice-President of the Court of Appeal (pg. 50). He is almost certainly wearing the badge shown in this post. Michael Hansson (19 November 1875-5 December, 1944 was first appointed to the Mixed Courts of Egypt on 1 January, 1907. He was made Vice-President of the Mansourah Court in 1911, and elevated to the President in the same year. Hansson was transferred to the District Court of Alexandrian the 8 October, 1913. He was transferred to the Appeals Court on 13 April, 2015 after an Austro-German judge departed his position in relation to WWI (probably Adalbert Bela De Zoltan, who joined the District Courts of Alexandria on 16, October, 1912 as President and was decommissioned on 31 January, 1915). Hansson was appointed to the Vice-Presidnency of the Appeals Court on 27 October, 1924. Michael Hansson was elevated to President of the Appeals Court in 1927 and served in that role until his retirement form the Courts on 1 July, 1931. He subsequently was Norway’s delegate on the conference in Montreux regarding the capitulations of the Mixed Courts in Egypt in 1937, and worked for several human rights organizations, especially in relation issues about refugees, such as the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, and the Nansen International Office for Refugees (accepting the Nobel Peace Prize for Nansen on 10 December, 1938). Hansson's posthumous autobiography about his life in Egypt (25 År I Egypt, referenced above) was published in 1946. 

 

 

Above is a high-resolution of the judicial badge of Michael Hansson. There appear to be some spots of wear to the gilt of this Appeals Court badge. As Hansson served very actively and for a long time (16 years) on the Appeals Court, it is not surprising that his badge shows a fair bit of wear and scratches to the central calligraphic tablet. This image shows well two distinctive aspects of the  Stobbe-made badges: 1) most obviously, the left leaning 5th vertical stroke (from the R) that is slightly out of parallel with the others (the alif vertical stroke of laam, that is slanting toward one noktah); 2) the upside down orientation of the 3 tuğ of the tughra within the Order of Medjdie element (see the 11th-15th photos in my post of 7 September, 2021). There are some slight differences in the execution of diacritical marks on Stobbe badges (see the comparisons in my post of 6 September, 2021: 10th-13th and 19th-21st photos). The calligraphy of the Hansson badge is identical to that on the Crabités badge (13th photo in my 6 September, 2021 post), and appears to be that same as two other badges in that 6 September post comparing calligraphic inscriptions. The Hansson and Crabités calligraphy also appears to be the same as one from a 2014 Balwin’s auction (Lot 844, shown as the 11th photo in that 6 September post) and the inscription on a badge that was attributed to M. Laurencin & Cie, of Alexandria by La Galerie Numismatique in a 2012 offering (Lot 323, but is a Stobbe-made badge), illustrated as the 19th image in the same 6 September 2021 post. The Baldwin’s and La Galerie Numismatique badge calligraphy are represented by lower-resolution photos, so the comparison of the diacritical marks to Hansson’s badge are less straightforward.

 

 

Reverse of the Michael Hansson Appeals Court badge. Note the tape underneath the hinge of the tunic pin with his faded name (only the “.   sson” is visible in this photo). When enlarged, at the distal end of the tunic pin, the “STOBBE, ALEXANDRIA” maker’s mark can be seen along with two other marks not present on any other Stobbe-made or other maker's judges badges. To the right of the tunic pin is the mark “900” that probably refers to the badge being 90% silver (with vermail) and to the left is the Ancient Egyptian ankh symbol of life or breath. See below. 

 

 

Image of the inferior portion of the reverse of the Hanssson badge with the tunic pin open showing the punched Stobbe maker's mark and associated marks. 

 

 

Just for the fun of how Judge Hansson's career in Egypt still resonates with his family, I was sent the above photo and story from Hansson's grandson. Arthur Hansson's father, Michael S. Hansson, stated a small company in 1951 called Ramses Shipping (apparently named for a donkey he had while growing up in Egypt, not the technically the Pharaoh). The company owned several tankers and they were marked on their smokestacks with the above symbol of the ankh on a flag as on this pin. The company closed after M. S. Hansson's death, but the family still fly this flag at their summer residence. 

Edited June 25 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

I have previously researched a member of the Mixed Courts from the United State, George Sherman Batcheller, but have not posted much about him here. I recently added a photo of a Spanish judge, Frédéric Rauret y Sugastres whose Mixed Courts badge I recently identified, shown in my post of 26 March, 2024. The photo of Judge Frédéric Rauret came from the George Sherman Batcheller Papers in the New York State Library Manuscript and Special Collections in Albany, NY, USA (Box 10, Folder 27). I received research copies of the cabinet card for Judge Frédéric Rauret in addition to scans of images of Batcheller when he was a judge on the Mixed Courts of Egypt. I am posting those image and information about George Sherman Bathcheller here. 

 

George Sherman Batcheller (25 July, 1837-2 July, 1908) was an American jurist from a prominent family, a lawyer, diplomat, and U.S. Civil War soldier from Saratoga Springs, New York. His father, Sherman Batcheller, was a descendant of John Batchellor, one of the judges on the Salem witchcraft trials, and the nephew of a signer of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, Roger Sherman. Batcheller raised a company of volunteers of the 115th New York Infantry Regiment, and entered the volunteer army as a Major and Lieutenant Colonel in August 1862. He was captured in October 1862 at the Siege of Harper’s Ferry.  He was released in December of that year and served with the 10th Army Corps. He was appointed as Inspector General of the Volunteers and National Guard of New York. He was designated as the escort for the body of Abraham Lincoln on behalf of the Governor of New York. 

 

Batcheller was initially nominated by President Ulysses S. Grant as a candidate to the newly created Egyptian Mixed Courts, and appointed to the Cairo District Court on 10 November, 1875. He was elected as Chief Justice of the Cairo Court in 1883. He served in that role until resigning on 30 November, 1885. Batcheller was involved with a controversial murder trial in 1880. Appointed as prosecutor because of a lack of staff on the Consular Courts, he tried Stephen Mirzan in those Courts, as a special assignment outside his normal role in the Mixed Courts. Mirzan was accused of killing, Alexandre Dahan, the advisor of the outgoing Viceroy of Egypt, Ismail Pasha. He was convicted and sentenced to death. His sentence was later commuted by President Rutherford Hayes to life imprisonment and he served time in Smyrna until 1883 and then in the Albany State Penitentiary, New York until his release in 1890. Bad press about the trial in America and Europe may have prompted Batcheller to write an article after the trial condemning the nature of the procedures in the Consular Courts, that the judge was a U.S. Minister to the Ottoman Empire and Mirzan was tried without benefit of a jury. Batcheller returned to New York State politics in the U.S. In 1885 but was re-nominated for the Mixed District Court of Cairo again by President Theodore Roosevelt and appointed to the District Court of Cairo on 12 December, 1897. Batcheller was elevated to the Appeals Court on 27 October, 1902 (but not as the President as I erroneously reported from one of my sources in my post here of 26 March, 2024) and served on that Court until his death in Paris from mouth cancer on 2 July, 1908. 

 

 

Obverse of the cabinet card showing a young George Sherman Batcheller. Undated portrait, almost certainly taken between 1875-1885, and probably closer to 1875 when Batcheller was first appointed to the Mixed Courts. The photo shows him in the stambouline coat and tarboosh, but without his sash and badge. Photo by E. Bechard & Cie. (Photo from: New York State Library, George Sherman Batcheller 1837-1908 Papers, 1825-1843, bulk 1858-1908, Box 10, Folder 3). 

 

 

Reverse of the Cabinet card of George Sherman Batcheller. Undated portrait, as noted probably taken between 1875-1885 during Batcheller’s first appointment to the Mixed Courts. E. Bechard & Cie., Alexandrie, Egypte (photo from: New York State Library, George Sherman Batcheller 1837-1908 Papers, 1825-1843, bulk 1858-1908, Box 10, Folder 3).

 

 

 

Cabinet card portrait of an older George Sherman Batcheller, probably from his second appointment to the Mixed Courts as a judge, 1902-1908 (photo from: New York State Library, George Sherman Batcheller 1837-1908 Papers, 1825-1843, bulk 1858-1908, Box 10, Folder 5). There are two copies of this portrait in the George Sherman Batcheller Papers.

 

 

Reverse of this cabinet card portrait of George Sherman Batcheller, Helios Photographie, Alexandrie & Caire, Egÿpte (photo from: New York State Library, George Sherman Batcheller 1837-1908 Papers, 1825-1843, bulk 1858-1908, Box 10, Folder 5).

 

 

Obverse of the second copy of the cabinet card portrait of George Sherman Batcheller (note the photo is pasted over part of the “Helios” studio name and over the “Alexandrie” in the lower right corner so only “& Caire” is visible. (Photo from: New York State Library, George Sherman Batcheller 1837-1908 Papers, 1825-1843, bulk 1858-1908, Box 10, Folder 5).

 

 

Reverse of the same second copy of the Helios Photographie cabinet card showing a slightly darker print of the studio name than on the first copy reverse of this portrait (photo from: New York State Library, George Sherman Batcheller 1837-1908 Papers, 1825-1843, bulk 1858-1908, Box 10, Folder 5).

 

 

Obverse of a cabinet card portrait of George Sherman Batcheller. This version is enlarged, cropped and dodged from the negative of the previous two portraits. (Photo from: New York State Library, George Sherman Batcheller 1837-1908 Papers, 1825-1843, bulk 1858-1908, Box 10, Folder 5).

 

 

Reverse of the enlarged, cropped and dodged version of the George Sherman Batcheller cabinet card, Helios Photographie, Alexandrie & Caire, Egÿpte. (Photo from: New York State Library, George Sherman Batcheller 1837-1908 Papers, 1825-1843, bulk 1858-1908, Box 10, Folder 5).

 

 

Obverse of a painted portrait based on the cabinet card photo above that is enlarged, cropped and dodged from the image of the Batcheller sitting in a chair. This shows the correct color of his tarboosh and red District Court sash. The sash color indicates this is probably a portrait from after his 1897 re-appointment to the District Court of Cairo  and prior to his appointment as judge to the Appeals Court in 1902 (his sash would have been green for the Appeals Court), Batcheller served on the Cairo District Courts from 1875-1885 and in 1897-1902. (Photo from: New York State Library, George Sherman Batcheller 1837-1908 Papers, 1825-1843, bulk 1858-1908, Box 10, Folder 5).

 

 

Reverse of the hand tinted image of George Sherman Batcheller on a Helios Photographie cabinet card. (Photo from: New York State Library, George Sherman Batcheller 1837-1908 Papers, 1825-1843, bulk 1858-1908, Box 10, Folder 5).

 

 

Engraving of George Sherman Batcheller, probably from a photographic portrait by Atelier Reiser of Alexandrie & Caire (see envelope bellow). His older visage suggests this photo postdates his re-appointment to the Mixed Courts in 1897. (Photo from: New York State Library, George Sherman Batcheller 1837-1908 Papers, 1825-1843, bulk 1858-1908, Box 10, Folder 7).  

 

 

Envelope for the above portrait showing the Atelier Reiser name, and identifies this as Reiser & Binder, Alexandrie & le Caire, (Egypte). I do not know when Binder was added to the studio name  (Photo from: New York State Library, George Sherman Batcheller 1837-1908 Papers, 1825-1843, bulk 1858-1908, Box 10, Folder 7). 

 

 

Portrait of George Sherman Batcheller by G. Lekegian & Co., studio, Cario (Egypt), wearing none of his court regalia. The awards he wears indicate this portrait must post-date 1889 (when he was awarded the Italian Order of the Crown). The image can be zoomed for som additional detail of his decorations. His white moustache suggests this is a later portrait than the above engraving. Batcheller wears the neck badge and breast star of the 2nd Class Order of Medjidie that was awarded to him 1n 1884. He wears the sash, sash badge and breast star of the 1st Class Grand Cordon Italian Order of the Crown (awarded 1889). The medal to the viewer’s right of the round medal on his chest is the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (appointed 1887). I do not know what miniature award Batcheller wears on his lapel nor what the round chest medal is. Batcheller also was awarded the French National Legion of Honor (Commander) sometime in the last year of his life, 1908. (Photo from: New York State Library, George Sherman Batcheller 1837-1908 Papers, 1825-1843, bulk 1858-1908, Box 10, Folder 6).

 

 

Obverse of a brooch with the bust of George Sherman Batcheller (photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History. ID # C.S. 037922; Catalog number 037922; Accession #: 117577). This brooch probably belonged to his daughter Katherine (Kate) Batcheller. The presence of this item (“brooch”) in the Smithsonian collection was mistakenly identified as probably being Batcheller’s judicial badge in the 3 November, 2008 auction (#80) of a Froment-Meurice Mixed Courts District badge (Lot 3) formerly archived on the Sixbid.com website (see my post on this thread of 20 October, 2021), as well as in the published catalog of the Tammann Collection (2008. Ordern aus Aller Welt: Samlung Tammann, 80- Auktion, 4-5 November 2008. UBS, AG, Gold & Numismatik Basel, Basel, pg 40). I contacted the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History to determine whether they had Batcheller's judicial badge and was provided the information that the only other item in the collection (in addition to a uniform [https://www.si.edu/search/collection-images?edan_local=&edan_q=George%2B%2F%2Fsherman%2BBAtcheller&] and a presentation sword [https://www.si.edu/object/sword-presented-george-batcheller:nmah_420453]) was this brooch. 

 

 

Reverse of the same brooch (photo courtesy of the in the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History. ID # C.S. 037922; Accession #: 117577). The Smithsonian does not have the judicial badge of George Sherman Batcheller. 

 

 

The Batcheller Mansion in Saratoga Springs, New York (from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Sherman_Batcheller#/media/File:Batcheller_Mansion_Saratoga_Springs_NY.jpg). 

 

 

The Batcheller Mausoleam in the forma of an ancient Egyptian mastaba tomb in Greenridge Cemetery, Saratoga Springs, NY, designed by R. Newton Brezee (from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Sherman_Batcheller#/media/File:Batcheller_Mausoleum.jpg). This image can be zoomed to read the inscriptions for George Sherman Batcheller, his wife, Catherine Phillips Cook, and his daughter Katherine Batcheller.  

 

Edited June 25 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

Returning to Michael Hansson (see above post of 20 June, 2024), below are photos of the commemorative medal he received for participating in the 12 April-8 May, 1937 Montreux Conference on the end of Capitulations in Egypt. Without getting lost in the weeds of detail and nuance, foreign governments coerced a number of concessions from the Egyptian government following the increased commercial trade initially associated with the importance of Egyptian cotton during the hiatus in production during the U.S. Civil War (1861-1865). Later, the construction of the Suez Canal (begun in 1859 and completed in 1869) rapidly boosted world trade, especially to central and eastern Europe. The influx of foreigners, and Khedive Ismail’s modernization program for Egypt during the 19th century, resulted in pressured changes favoring extraterritorial exemptions to the extant Ottoman restrictions on religion, taxation, and legal jurisdiction for foreigners in Egypt. The Mixed Courts were in part an outgrowth of the Capitulations, but were an improvement over the Consular Courts that offered preferential protection of foreigners. The Mixed Courts also were instituted as an Egyptian effort at modernization and reform of the legal complexities associated with the Capitulations, adopting practices from French Civil Codes and British Common Law along with local Islamic legal precepts. Increased activity of Egyptian independence movements in the 1920s made it inevitable that local demands for ending the Capitulations would be addressed by European beneficiaries of those concessions. 

 

The Montreux Conference of 12 April-8 May, 1937 formalized the planned abolishment of the Capitulations. Michael Hansson was the Chairman of the Norwegian Delegation to the Conference. Because of his 25-year service on the Mixed Courts he was elected as the President of the Committee on the Mixed Courts Charter, one of two principal committees. A new charter with significant input from the Egyptian delegates, the Revised Mixed Court Charter (Règlement d’Organisation Judiciaire), was signed May 8, 1937. It took over certain jurisdiction that were previously in the Consular Courts and governed the Mixed Courts after 14 October, 1937. The termination of the Mixed Courts did not go into effect until 14 October, 1949.

 

 

Above is a high-resolution photo of the obverse of the commemorative medal for the 1937 Montreux Conference. This is Michael Hansson’s personal medal and is in excellent condition compared with many examples on the auction market. This photo, ands the one below of the reverse, was taken by Michael Hansson’s grandson, Arthur Hansson, and are copyrighted by him. Mr. Hansson has graciously allowed me to share them with the GMIC audience. The inscription on the obverse translates as: “Kingdom of Egypt”. The medal was designed and struck by Huguenin Frères & Co, Médailleurs, Le Locle (Suisse)", as can be seen on the lower left margin (~8:00 position) of the obverse. 

 

 

This high-resolution image of the reverse of the Hansson 1937 Montreux Conference medal also comes from Arthur Hansson. The inscription translates: “Montreux Conference, Abolition of Capitulations, April May 1937”. The name Huguenin can be seen on the inferior margin of the reverse of the medal in the 6:00 [position. The rectangular hallmark to the right of the Huguenin name is probably a silver purity mark ("925"?) and the triangular-ish mark is almost certainly the hallmark for Huguenin (see below). 

 

 

 

Huguenin hallmark from a 1920s Swiss metal scent-strip stand was made by Huguenin Freres & Co, le Locle, Switzerland (1868-1999) marked on the base: 'HF  HUGUENIN LE LOCLE  SWISS MADE   FAB. SUISSE' for the perfumer Chuit, Naef & Cie (1895-1945). This image came from Cleopatra's Boudoir, a website dedicate to the history of perfume (https://cleopatrasboudoir.blogspot.com/2013/11/vintage-1920s-swiss-chuit-naef-cie.html). The "HF" refers to Huguenin Frères. Fritz Huguenin, engraver, and his brother Albert Huguenin, engine turner, set up a small minting company in Le Locle, Switzerland in 1868 as die sinkers, jewellers, medallists, and especially design and decoration of watch cases. They issued their first medal in 1899. 

 

 

Above is a moderate-resolution photo of a different case to show the name and address of the manufacturer printed on the inside of the upper lid of the case. The name "Huguenin Frères & Co." postdates the economic troubles of WWI and the 1930s, when they became a limited company in 1934. This example of a case for the 1937 Montreux Conference medal comes from a set in a 19 January, 2019 auction (33, Lot: 2316) by Stephen Album Rare Coin (https://www.sarc.auction/EGYPT-Farouk-1936-1952-gilt-silver-medal-48-03g-1937-EF-AU_i32009976). Stephen Album Rare Coin identifies the medal offered with this case as gilt silve measuring 50 mm in diameter and weighing 48.03 g. 

 

The closing of the Mixed Courts 12 years after the conclusion of the 1937 Montreux Conference occurred on 14 October, 1942. It commemorated with a medal, a 10 mill stamp, and at least 4 special postal first day cover envelopes. I have illustrated almost alll of these items previously on this thread. However, as they relate to the results of the 1937 Montreux Conference, I will include them again below.

 

 

Above is a moderate resolution photo of the bronze version of the commemorative medal issued 14 October, 1949 for the closure of the Mixed Courts, obverse on R and reverse on L (from an archived listing on Medals4Trade: https://www.medals4trade.com/displayimage.php?pid=5593#top_display_media). The Arabic inscription on the obverse translates as: “Farouk I”, “King of Egypt”. The Arabic and French inscriptions on the reverse translate: “End of the Mixed Judicial System, 14·X·49”. This medal was made by Sadek Tewfik Bichay (STB punched on the reverse of the medals and in Arabic on the obverse just below the left side of the bust of King Farouk I), one of the sons of Tewfik Bichay. The odd "triangle" imagery on the reverse of the medals (from the middle to the right had side) is based on the graphics of the stamp issued to commemorate the same closure event of the Mixed Courts on 14-10-1949, and represents a page being tuned over toward the right revealing the scales of justice and the 10 mills value of that stamp (see images below of the stamp). Medals4Trade gives the dimension of the bronze medal as 42 mm and weight as 29-30 g. I have notpreviously illustrated this medal several on this thread. 

 

 

Above is a high-resolution image of the silver issue of the Farouk commemorative medal for the closure of the Mixed Courts. In addition to the “STB” maker’s mark on the right inferior margin of the reverse, just to the right of “MIXTE”, the 3 Egyptian silver hallmarks are visible on the left of the inferior margin to the left of “MIXTE”. Strangely, the cat hallmark for Egyptian-made silver on the reverse of the silver medals was supposedly used only between 1916-1946 appears on this medal struck in 1949, which “should” have used the first of the lotus designs to identify Egyptian-made silver after 1946. From: https://www.icollector.com/EGYPT-Farouk-1936-1952-AR-medal-32-27g-1949-EF_i29825948. The silver medal also is 42 mm in diameter but weights 39 g.I have previously illustrated this medal several time on this thread (1st photo in my post of 3 May, 2018; last photo in my post of 28 February, 2019; 1st phot in my post of 7 July, 2020; and as cropped images of the obverse and reverse as the 3rd, 4th, 5th  photos in my post of 7 January, 2021).  

 

 

Block of commemorative stamps with the same imagery and inscription as the commemorative medals (from a former 2018 eBay listing: https://www.ebay.com/itm/EGYPT-1949-Abolition-of-Mixed-Courts-Control-Block-MNH/142950418402?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649). I have previously illustrated this here as the 2nd photo in my post of 17 October, 2018 on this thread. 

 

 

Special Arabic and French first day cover (FDC) envelope for the closing of the Mixed Courts, this inscription translates: “Abolition of Mixed Jurisdictions” and includes the dates the Courts were open 1875-1949 in the book underneath the scales. This FDC was cancelled in Alexandria. From a 2018 eBay auction: https://www.ebay.com/itm/EGYPT-1949-Abolition-of-Mixed-Courts-First-Day-Cover-FDC-Alex-CDs-Rare/142957707271?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649. I have previously illustrated this as the 3rd photo in my post of 17 October, 2018 on this thread. 

 

 

Special Arabic and English language FDC envelope commemorating the closure of the Mixed Courts. This FDC was cancelled in Alexandria. From a 2018 eBay auction: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Egypt-1949-Alexandria-National-Courts-Commemoration-Abolition-Mixed/273338212665?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649. This envelope was previously illustrated on this thread as the 1st photo in my post of 25 October, 2018. 

 

 

Another version of an Arabic and French FDC for the “Abolition of Mixed Jurisdictions”, cancelled in Cairo. From a September 2018 UK eBay offering: https://www.ebay.com/itm/EGYPT-1949-MIXTES-FDC-/283142086028?nordt=true&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m43663.l44720. Previously illustrated as the 1st photo in m y post of 14 November, 2018 on this thread.

 

 

Arabic and English language FDC with a stamped inscriptions for the “Dissolution of the Mixed Courts” and vulture holding feathers (representing truth, maat, in the Ancient Egyptian scenes of judgement in the underworld following death) motif and cancellations from Port Said. From a 2018 eBay auction: https://www.ebay.ca/itm/DR-WHO-1949-EGYPT-FDC-DISSOLUTION-OF-MIXED-COURTS-CACHET-d52065-/163285951903. I previously showed this envelope as the 2nd photo in my post of 25 October, 2018. 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 17 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

I just heard back from Sherif Boraïe, the author of the 2021 publication A Face in Time: Egypt Photo Studios 1865-1939 (Zeitouna, Dar el-Kutub), whose photos of an unidentified Mixed Courts judge or official and of a group of judges of the Indigenous Courts I included in my post here of 19 June, 2024 as the 1st and 7th photos. I had asked Mr. Boraïe about the signatures on the 3 images I also included in that 19 June post. He checked the 2 images attributed to Studio Victor in A Face in Time: Egypt Photo Studios 1865-1939 and provided images of the signatures that had been cropped from the book plates. Although the form of the “V” is different in the signatures he provided, the form of the other letters is similar to those of the signatures I was unsure about. Mr. Boraïe agrees that despite that difference, these appear to identify Studio Victor as the source of those 2 images of a Mixed Courts official and of an Indigenous Court official.

 

 

Signature on the lower right of the portrait of a Mixed Courts' official, apparently wearing a tri-colored sash along with the Mixed Courts insignia badge. The full photo is shown as the 2nd image  in my post of 19 June, and I included this cropped close-up as the 3rd Image. This photo is undated, but must predate October 14, 1949 when the Mixed Courts were closed.. 

 

 

An informal written signature on a proof print of an official of the Indigenous Courts in a jellabiya (galabeya) with a bi-colored 3-striped sash with the crescent and 3 stars insignia of that Court. The full proof photo is shown as the 4th image in my post of 19 June, 2024. 

 

 

Signature on the mat of a print of the same photo of the man in jellaibiya with the bi-colored 3-striped sash with the crescent and 3 stars, shown as the 5th photo in my 19 June post. The form is the same as that on the portrait of the Mixed Courts' official. Note the date of 1952.

 

 

Signature on a Studio Victor portrait of Police Academy from an unspecified city, sent to me by Sherif Boraïe. The signature was cropped from the photographic plate in Boraïe’s 2021 book A Face in Time: Egypt Photo Studios 1865-1939 on page 228 titled “The Police Academy in summer uniform. Gelatin silver print, 17.5 x 23 cm. Studio Victor. Although the form of the initial “V” lacks the looping cartouche to the right framing the signature (instead having a flourish to the left), all the other letters are signed in similar calligraphy to the above 3 signatures in question. The photo is undated. 

 

 

The same form of the Studio Victor signature on the photographic plate on page 229 of A Face in Time: Egypt Photo Studios 1865-1939  on page 238 titled: “The Police Academy in winter uniform. Gelatin silver print, 17.5 x 23 cm. Studio Victor". Again, this signature was cropped from the book plate. This photo also is undated. Boraïe's topical coverage is bracketed between 1865 and 1939, so there is a chance that the form of Studio Victor's signature changed subsequent to that date. That is a suggestion from Sherif Boraï and my own inferences. Other than the initial "V", all of the other letters on both of these Police Academy group portraits appear to be written in the same hand as those I illustrated here on 19 June, 2024. 

 

 

[Rusty Greaves]

Below is an image of a District Courts badge from a 9 July, 2021 auction (78) by Leiloeira São Domingos, Lot 4 (https://www.leiloeirasaodomingos.pt/lote/0/2015.78/0/0/0/0/4/0). The description identifies the size of the badge as 12 x 9 cm and gives an approximate weight of 163 g. No photograph of the reverse is included, but it is stated to bear the "FROMENT-MEURICE" mark on the reverse. It was offered with its original case, but no photo of the case is included in the auction listing. This badge is identified as being that of a Portuguese judge on the Mixed Courts. 

 

 

This gold and silver badge from the 9 July, 2021 auction (78) by Leiloeira São Domingos, Lot 4 is consistent with Froment-Meurice workmanship. The calligraphy on the central tablet is consistent with some Group 2 inscriptions, as outlined in my comparative post on this thread of 6 September, 2021. The form of the script matches the examples shown in the 8th and 9th photos of that post, one a silver badge associated with the Greek Court official Apostolo N. Gennaropoulo from a past eBay auction. The other most similar calligraphy is on a silver badge from a July 2015 auction by Clark Auction Gallery, Lot 0235, archived on the liveauctioneers.com website (https://www.liveauctioneers.com/price-result/silver-froment-meurice-egyptian-badge/). The Clark Auction badge was resold a 19 June, 2022 auction by Helios Auctions (Auction #33, Lot 43, with very high resolution images of the silver badge. The listing is archived on the invaluable.com website (https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/a-rare-ottoman-empire-egypt-judges-badge-by-frome-2d040dba00), including very high resolution images of that badge. It also is archived on the (https://www.liveauctioneers.com/price-result/a-rare-ottoman-empire-egypt-judge-s-badge-by-froment-meurice/). I illustrated images (and identified it as the same badge as the 2015 Clark Auction Gallery offering) in the 1st-5th and the 8th photos of that post of 19 June, 2021 on this thread. The 5th photo  in that 19 June, 2021 post is good for comparing with the above Leiloeira São Domingos auction badge's calligraphy. The tugra is in the correct orientation, slightly rotated ~30°-40° to the right as seen on all Froment-Meurice badges. The badge is identified to have belonged to the Portugues jurist Alberto de Sousa Larcher. 

 

The 50th anniversary volume about the Mixed Courts (Les Juridictions Mixtes d'Égypte 1876-1926 Livre d'or Édité sous le Patronage du Conseil de l’Ordre des Avocats á l’Occasion du Cinquantenaire des Tribunaux de la Réforme, par le journal des Tribunaux Mixtes. Alexandrie, Egypte) identifies Alberto de Sousa Larcher (with the alternate spelling of his last name "de Souza") as a Legal Advisor (Conseiller) to the Appeals Court of Court of Appeal of St. Paul de Loanda (Portuguese Guinea, in the W African colony of Senegal). He was named to the District Court of Mansourah on 28 April, 1891. He resided in Port Said and was transferred to the District Court in Alexandria on 2 January, 1896   (Appendix 1, pg. XV). De Sousa Larcher was promoted to Conseiller on the Court of Appeals 4 December, 1902, replacing the French judge Maurice Jean Joseph Bellet. Alberto de Sousa Larcher reached the age limit of 70 (for the Appeals Court, the age limit for the district Courts was 65) on 31 October 1920 (Appendix 1, pg V). The above gold and silver District badge dates to the time of his service on the District Courts, probably close to his original appointment in 1891. The above photo shows that the badge is in excellent condition with very few scratches and no loss of enamel. De Sousa was awarded the 1st Class Grand Cordon Order of the Nile upon his retirement. A Facebook citation (https://www.facebook.com/carasdeportalegre/posts/alberto-de-sousa-larcherjuiz-e-comendador-da-ordem-de-cristonatural-desta-cidade/1792956080940736/ states that he also was a past recipient the Commander Class Portuguese Military Order of Christ (Ordem Militar de Cristo) and that he died on 1 December, 1929, but gives his age as 81 on that date.

 

 

Edited July 16 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

I came across the photo below of a Mixed Courts badge resting in its case on Pinterest. The image is credited as coming from an arcade-style “flea market”, Marché Dauphine of Saint Ouen-sur-Seine, France (Puces de Saint-Ouen): https://ro.pinterest.com/pin/455215474807911387/. This market opened in the early 1990s. It is a very eclectic mixture of vendors, but includes several antique dealers. An oddly unique emblematic feature of the Marché Dauphine is the presence of a "flying saucer"-shaped structure in the arcade that is one of approximately only 100 Futuro Houses produced from the 1968  design of architect Matt Suuronen. This particular Mixed Courts badge was made by Wolf Horovitz of Alexandria. There is no date associated with the Pinterest posting of this photo. There are Instagram images of some of the offerings by the different vendors at Marché Dauphine, but I have not found one of this badge (Instagram photos exhibit posting dates, unlike Pinterest). Its position in the Marché Dauphine Pinterest site may suggests that it is a later posting than the  2018-2019 eBay listing. However, I cannot identify when this badge passed though the Marché Dauphine antique dealers at this point. The badge was sold from the antique shop Oriental Obsession, stand No. 246-247 in the Marché Dauphine. The owner of the shop, Mohamed El Guebali, cannot recall when it was sold. 

 

 

Above is a moderate-resolution photo of a Mixed Courts badge from the Pinterest site of Marché Dauphine. The photo can be enlarged somewhat fora bit more detail. This is the same badge I previously illustrated in the 1st – 7th photos of my post of 1 December, 2018. Those images came from a contemporary eBay auction (sold in January 2019), but did not include the photo shown above. The one image of the badge from the eBay listing of the badge in its medal bed has a shadow extending to the inferior margin of the crown element. Photos of the reverse on eBay showed the Horovitz name and 3 Egyptian silver hallmarks (showing a date hallmark of “N” for 1938-1939). Photos of the interior case lid from the past eBay listing show the printed “W. Horovitz, 26 Rue Chérif Pasha, Alexandrie” in cursive script (also shown below). It is identified on that 2018 eBay listing as gilt silver and includes the original case. I also illustrated the reverse of the same badge in the 6th to 11th-to-last images of my post of 28 February, 2019 comparing hallmarks on the reverse of some Mixed Courts badges, and the 5th-to-last photo in that post also shows the Horovitz name on the inside of the upper lid of the presentation case. The calligraphy on the tablet above matches exactly that of the 2018 eBay example (see especially the 16th - 17th photos in my post of 6 September, 2021 comparing tablet calligraphy on badges by different manufacturers). Additionally, the staining on the tablet (a yellowish hue from the left middle of the tablet extending into the approximate middle of the badge, it can be seen better by zooming the above image) is identical to the above example (also see the staining in the 7th photo in that 1 December 2018 post and in the 2 photos referenced in the 6 September, 2021 post, one shown below). Although hard to see in this photo, the tugra inside the Order of Medjidie element is oriented upside down, as it is on all of the very few Horovitz-made badge examples I have seen photos of on auction sites.  

 

 

Above is a higher-resolution image of the same badge from the past eBay offering sold in January 2019. I included this photo as the 1st image in my post on this thread of 1 December, 2018. That listing included multiple images of the reverse (showing the Horowitz maker's mark), the hallmarks on this badge, and the W. Horovitz name inside the upper lid of the associated case. Note the identical staining on the central tablet with the inscription. The eBay listing identified this badge as gilt silver. It may be an Appeals Court badge (all gilt) or a District Courts badge (gold & silver). Most of the eBay images gives all of the badge a gold hue. I cannot detect any clear distinctions in gilt & silver areas that might help define the District Court badges. Some of the eBay photos make the badge appear to be silver with some tarnish. I cannot currently determine whether this badge is gilt, partially gilt, or silver. 

 

 

Cropped close-up of the central tablet inscription on the same Horovitz badge from the late 12018-January 2019 eBay offering of this badge. This also shows well the distinctive yellowish staining on the tablet from the left middle to the approximate center of the badge that is identical to that seen on the 1st image above from the Marché Dauphine Pinterest site. I included this image as the 16th photo (the 3rd example in my listing under "Wolf Horovitz, Alexandria") in my post of 6 September, 2021 comparing the central tablet calligraphy of different manufacturers of the Mixed Courts badges. 

 

 

W. Horovitz name inside the case for the same badge as illustrated from the Marché Dauphine Pinterest site above as the 1st photo in this post. This comes from the 2018-2019 eBay listing of this badge, and was the 4th photo in my post of 1 December, 2018 on this thread. 

 

 

Edited July 17 by Rusty Greaves

[Rusty Greaves]

I came across another auction listing of one of the unusual  cast examples of what I feel is a possible "jewelry" version of the Mixed Courts badge, apparently made by Wolf Horovitz. I first encountered an example of this very abbreviated workmanship on a 5 December, 2018 auction offdering by Bamfords Auctioneers and Valuers of the UK (Auction 20, Lot 3620A). That listing is still archived on the Bamfords website (https://auctions.bamfords-auctions.co.uk/catalogue/lot/1672cda7783734d000495e169152f06c/e4ebea155a08e205e5ea6a89010099d0/two-day-gentleman-s-library-stamps-grand-tour-curio-lot-3620a/). I initially illustrated that badge in my post of 2 December, 2018 on this thread with 2 high-resolution images showing the obverse and reverse. Only the photo of the obverse is still archived on the Bamfords website. The second example I encountered was from a 24 October, 2021 auction listing by the Turkish auctioneers Arthill Museum Collection KYM., LTD., ŞTI.  (Auction 20, Lot 16) with 6 lower-resolution images of the obverse and reverse of this badge, showing details of the central tablet with the inscription, the crown, the “HOROVITZ” name on the reverse, and a side view showing its 3-part construction (https://www.arthill.com.tr/urun/4095822/hidiv-19-yuzyil-altin-vermeyli-bronz-mineli-adalet-nisani-19-yuzyil-sultan-abdu). That listing and photos are still archived on the Arthill website. The Arthill example is illustrated and described in my post of 7 April, 2022 on this thread. That post also includes the 2 images from the December 2018 Bamfords listing. These unusual adaptations of the Mixed Courts badge design are the same size as the official Mixed Courts badges but are cast rather than struck with much more abbreviated execution and are made of bronze, (a material only used for one uncommon adaptation of the more-detailed original Froment-Meurice design that was made by Union des Graveurs, D. Ialanos, A. deLeo.& A. Kassandrinos of Alexandria). The 2 previous examples I have seen both were associated with photos of the reverse that show the Horovitz name. The Bamfords description states that the badge from their auction is “probably” silver gilt, and it does exhibit 3 Egyptian hallmarks that are not clear in enlargement but are likely silver hallmarks. The Arthill example is stated to be bronze and vermeil and does not appear to have any assay hallmarks. It is unclear to me whether that Arthill example is gilt.

 

 

Above is a low-resolution image of the version of the obverse of the example that I just encountered. It comes from a 21 February, 2021 auction (5, Lot 126) by Hitit Antik in Ankara (https://www.hititantik.com/en/product/3207720/hidiv-armasi-avrupa-yapimi-bronzdan-imal-edilmis-11x9-cm-uzerinde-osmanlica-ad). There are no photos of the reverse of this badge. The description calls it a “Khedival coat of arms”, identifies it as European bronze, gives it’s dimensions as 11 x 9 cm, and offers a translation of the inscription. The parts of the badge with black enamel on the drapery folds bracketing the margins of the badge and on 2 of the openings between the arches of the crown are identical to those on the Bamfords example. (in contrast with that on the Arthill's piece). The black enamel on both the Hitit Antik and Bamfords examples appears to be a painted application rather than baked, consistent with the abbreviated form and execution of these cast forms adapting the original badge design. The white enamel between the inferior wreath and the central roundel suggesting the Order of Medjidie element also is seen on the Bamfords badge but is not present on the Arthill badge. I thought there might be a possibility that this could be the same example as the Bamfords piece, but more tarnished (hence possibly prior to any cleaning by Bamfords). However, the Bamfords badge appears less tarnished and was sold only about 2 years before this Hitit Antik badge offering. I have looked at discolored locations on the central tablet and the rayed embellishment, where distinctive stains often are apparent, but see no conclusive similarities. The Hititi Antik photo is of such low-resolution that any potential similarities cannot be confirmed. The only possible comparative anomaly is a dark spot in the ~9:45 position in the margin of white enamel near the inside the wreath of the Hitit Antik piece that is in the same location as a light gray spot in the white enamel of the Bamfords piece. Most parsimoniously, I must infer the Hitit Antik is a different and additional example of this very unusual piece made in the form of the official Mixed Courts badges. 

 

 

For comparison, above is the higher-resolution image from the archived 2018 Bamfords listing of an identical badge. 

[Rusty Greaves]

I have a bit of ephemera about Wolf Horovitz that I wish to add while I have been posting about him. Thus far, I have not found any images of business cards, receipts for his workshop, photos of his storefront, or advertisements in publications. However, I did find an additional photo of him, and some examples of his jewelry work and the watches he imported from Switzerland. I have previously included some information on the original designer of these badges (Émile Froment-Meurice: my post of 15 August, 2019) and a couple of other manufacturers of these badges (Rudolf Stobbe: the 3rd- 5th images in my post of 24 September, 2019, the 2nd image in my post of 8 December, 2019, the 5th photo in my post of 3 November, 2022; and the 3 photos in my post of 16 January, 2024; Zivy Frères & Cie: the last 2 photos in my post of 24 April, 2019, the final 3 images in my post of 8 December, 2019; and the 1st-4th images in my post of 3 November, 2022) but have not added much information about Wolf Horovitz. I have not yet found any information about Union de Graveurs D. Ialanos, A de Leo, & A. Kassandrinos at 5 rue de L'Eglise Copte, Alexandrie who made a couple cast examples I have illustrated on this thread (see my post of 3 February, 2022). Additionally, I have now identified 5 unknown makers of these badges whose designs are distinctive and either have no makers’ marks on the reverse or there is no information about whether they are marked. In my post of 23 August, 2023 the 4th & 5th photos show a business card of Flle. F & V.  Rusciano at Haret El Soufi No. 5, Cairo who identify as “Experts près les Tribunaux Mixtes” (experts at [to] the Mixed Courts), but I have not yet identified the configuration of their badges among the 5 makers whose badges I have not yet associated with makers’ identities. 

 

Wolf Zeev Horovitz was born in Alexandria (18 August, 1883) and was probably of Romanian descent. Horovitz died in Geneva Switzerland on 16 February, 1959. Horovitz’s son Théodore Horovitz, began working as a jeweler in his father’s workshop in 1934 and he is credited with moving the business to Geneva after the elimination of the monarchy in 1952. Several biographical sketches of Horovitz on auction sites discussing the quality of his pieces emphasize his skills and connection s with elite clientele that include King Fuad I and King Farouk I, The biographical notes in the Nadine Krakov Collection listing for a turquoise, diamond and ruby gold ring (illustrated below) states that Théodore made a crown for “the Queen”, presumably Queen Farida, first wife of King Farouk before their divorce in 1948. Le Mondain Egyptienne for 1939 gives Wolf Hotovitz’s home address as 71 avenue Prince Ibrahim, Ibrahimieh, Alexandria. I have previously Illustrated a photo of Wolf Horovitz from the Geni.com genealogy website as the last photo in my post of 24 September, 2019 (and posted here below). I also included two examples of his makers marks used on products manufactured in Europe (one for Britain, and one for France) as the 6th and 7th images in that same 24 September, 2019 post. I recently found two images of the identification card for Wolf Horovitz showing him as a younger man than in the photo included with the Geni.com listing. I have only recently found a few examples of his jewelry work, that does demonstrate significant skill. These Horovitz jewelry pieces are very lovely examples of Art Deco work. Most of the pieces I have seen by Froment-Meurice and Zivy Frères are more "old fashioned" 19th century Gothic revival and French Renaissance revival styles. J. Lattes, maker of royal Egyptian orders and medals, appears to have made many pieces in a Egyptian revival style. Horovitz Mixed Courts badges are not as elegant in their details as the Froment-Meurice badges, nor a couple other as yet unidentified makers, so I was surprised at the beauty, liveliness, and innovation in these jewelry pieces illustrated below. I also am including a couple of watches made in Geneva for retail by Horovitz in Alexandria. 

 

 

Apparently cropped view of the outer cover of the Certificate of Identity , probably from an eBay source I did not note in 2021. The fold on right is probably the middle seam that can be seen in the next photo. 

 

 

Fully opened Certificate of Identity showing the stamped photo of Wolf Horovitz and his name in English. 

 

 

Cropped close up of the photo of Wolf Horovitz also at an oblique angle. 

 

 

Undated photo of Wolf Zeev Horovitz from the Geni.com website (https://www.geni.com/photo/view/6000000002383946981?album_type=photos_of_me&photo_id=600000000246149679).I previously included this portrait as the 8th  image in my post of 24 September, 2019.  

 

 

Undated photo of Wolf Horovitz’s son, Théodore “Teddy” Horovitz (28 May, 1917-17 June, 1996), also from the Geni.com website (https://www.geni.com/photo/view/6000000002358826289?album_type=photos_of_me&photo_id=6000000002436966075). As noted above, Théodore Horovitz started working in the Horovitz atelier probably in 1934 and continued as a jeweler for his career. 

 

 

 

 

A turquoise diamond and ruby ring made by Horovitz. From a current online sale by Nadine Krakov Collection, SKU: 70701 GOOO (https://nadinekrakovcollection.com/rings/retro-horovitz-alexandrie-turquoise-ring-diamond-18k-gold/). The interior of the ring is engraved “HOROVITZ, ALEXANDRIE”.

 

 

 

 

A diamond and platinum brooch made by Horovitz. This item is listed. on both The Antiques Guild out of Brisbane, Australia (https://theantiqueguild.com.au/products/mid-century-platinum-diamond-set-floral-clip-brooch-by-w-horowitz-of-alexandria). The 1st Dibs website online market out of the US also lists this brooch for The Antique Guild out of Brisbane (https://www.1stdibs.com/jewelry/brooches/brooches/platinum-diamond-floral-brooch-wolf-horovitz-alexandria/id-j_23096502/). The images on The Antiques Guild are higher resolution than the same images on 1st Dibs, and are the photos I have shown here. Horovitz name is engraved ”W. Horovitz – Alexandrie”

 

 

A Sotheby’s past auction offering from 17 November, 2009 offering (Lot 358) of a demi-parure pair of ruby, diamond, and gold clip earrings and a brooch.  This jewelry was sold in a 17 November, 2009 Sotheby’s “Magnificent Jewels” auction in Geneva, Lot 358 (https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2009/magnificent-jewels-ge0905/lot.358.html).This partial set is made of gold, rubies, and diamonds and is signed “Horovitz” and in a case stamped “W. Horovitz, 26 rue Cherif Pacha, Alexandrie”. Sotheby’s also sold an unsigned Horovitz diamond and platinum necklace in a 13 November, 2013 auction (GE1305, Lot 85 (https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2013/magnificent-jewels-ge1305/lot.85.html). ). Although unsigned, it is in a case stamped with Horovitz ‘s name and has a photocopy of the original receipt dated to 16 June, 1951 from the 26, Rue Chérif Pacha, Alexandrie shop, indicating he was still open at this date.

 

As with most Egyptian jewelers in the early 20th century, Horovitz retailed high quality watches made in Switzerland. I have come across a couple examples of Swiss-made clocks marked for retail by Zivy I Frères & Cie., but have not illustrated them on this thread. I have shown a few watches made by J. Lattes and Lattes Frères in my thread “Question about Order of Ismail/Nishan al-Ismail” here in the “Middle East & Arab States” section of GMIC. Below are photos of 2 examples of watches retailed by Wolf Horovitz. 

 

 

 

The above low-resolution photos show a double date steel wristwatch made by the Swiss Luxury watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre and sold on the Tom Bolt Watch Guru website (https://www.watchguru.com/WatchFiend/Watch-Details/Jaeger-Le-Coultre/Double-Date-NOS/13362). The website dates the watch to approximately the 1940s. Information I found indicates both round and rectangular LeCoultre double date wristwatches were produced 1935-1942. Jaeger-LeCoultre manufactured its watches in Le Sentier, Switzerland and was founded in 1833. The rare double date watches include a day window (in French) and the outer date track. No serial number for the watch is given. The name “HOROVITZ, ALEXANDRIE” appears on the face above the subdial, indicating he was the retailer of this watch.  

 

 

 

 

 

The other watch I have found retailed by Horovitz is a Patek, Philippe, & Cie. of Geneva, shown in the high-resolution images above. This pocketwatch was auctioned approximately 4 years ago apparently on Monaco Legend Auctions and the photos and brief description are archived on the Picuki site that allows downloads of Instagram phots and videos (https://www.picuki.com/media/2203151921003132145). The watch is made of yellow and rose gold and has its original case and authentication papers. No additional information is provided. The serial number of the movement is visible on the certificat d’origine et de garantie: 822382, that also is dated 1945. The watchface is marked “W. HOROVITZ-ALEXANDRIE” above the 6:00 hour marker. The photo of the case shows that Horovitz’s name is misspelled as “W. HOROWITZ, ALEXANDRIE” on the lower right corner of the inside of the upper lid. 

 

Edited Wednesday at 18:11 by Rusty Greaves