Elmar Lang Posted August 12 Posted August 12 (edited) Hello again, I perfectly understand your words: in the past years, I've also been involved in the activities of archaeological excavation and the cataloguing/documentation of the excavations' results. My late wife (we met on the site of an excavation south of Rome) had a degree in Conservation/Restauration of archaeological artifacts... I think I perfectly understand your points and your observations. Prof. Mericka once said (echoing the words of Oldrich Pilc) that phaleristic can be a branch of social siences and I agree: Orders and Decorations are not what we find in an excavation and they can tell us more than a piece of a broken vessel, but nonetheless, we try to put pieces, fragments, witnesses of the past together and try to understand their meaning, trying to accomplish a task that sometimes is far beyond our possibilities, but at least it's worth to try. Understanding the past, through findings: on this subject, I would like to remember here, an exhibition held at the "Musée Romain" of Lausanne-Vidy (Switzerland), in 2002-2003: "Futur Antérieur", where the organizing committee, led by the then director, Dr. Laurent Flutsch, presented a rich series of pieces from our modern times (rubbish, mostly), broken cups, fragments of computers, buttons, etc., all artificially aged (in a very convincing way!) to look like being 1.000 or 2.000 years old: everything put in showcases with accurate descriptions explaining how archaeologists interpreted those artifacts. The exhibition, was accompanied by a very well made catalogue, where the very seriously and professionally written descriptions, were humourous or hilarious for us knowing what the artifacts on exhibit actually were. In the truth, that exhibition, besides its success, was an invitation to think about the scientifical approach to the past. Excuse me for the off-topic, Enzo Edited August 12 by Elmar Lang
Rusty Greaves Posted August 12 Author Posted August 12 Hardly off-topic Enzo! Even orders & medals are material culture that have a behavioral background and individual histories that are part of the excitement of studying them. Hence the many researchers here on GMIC interested in photos, information from medal rolls, textual references, etc. Cheers, 🍻 Rusty
Rusty Greaves Posted September 12 Author Posted September 12 (edited) I have found a photo of the Portuguese judge Alberto de Sousa (or Souza, but Portuguese sources favor "Sousa")-Larcher. I illustrated a gold and silver District Court badge attributed to him in my post on this thread of 15 July, 2024 The above photo of Judge de Sousa-Larcher comes from a set of illustrations of past Presidents of the Mixed Court of Appeals in 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). This portrait is on page 38 of that anniversary publication. Judge de Sousa-Larcher wears what I think is a British OBE on the purple neck ribbon in use until 1937. He also wears the star of the Portuguese Military Order of Christ, Commander Class, and the breast star of the 1st Class Grand Cordon Order of the Nile. He appears to be wearing a sash. However, his only 1st Class honor, the Order of the Nile, has a blue sash and yellow stripes that seems contrary to the light colored sash with dark stripes in this portrait image. High-resolution image of the District Mixed Courts badge (silver and vermeil) attributed to Judge Alberto de Sousa-Larcher from a 9 July, 2021 auction (78), Lot 4, by the Portuguese auction house Leiloeira São Domingos (https://www.leiloeirasaodomingos.pt/lote/0/2015.78/0/0/0/0/4/0). The badge is stated to have a Froment-Meurice maker's name stamped on the reverse. The central tablet calligraphy is consistent with what I have termed Group 2. Judge de Sousa-Larcher served on the District Court of Mansourah from 1891-1896 when he was transferred to the District Court of Alexandria. He served on that Court until he was promoted to Conseiller (advisor) to the Appeals Court in 1902. He served as the President of the Appeals Court from 1916 until 1920, when he reached the mandatory retirement age for the Appeals Court. Edited September 13 by Rusty Greaves
Rusty Greaves Posted September 12 Author Posted September 12 (edited) The Mixed Courts badge below appears to be a fully gilt Appeals Court badge. there is very little information associated with the 2 photos of this badge. Low-moderate-resolution image of the obverse of a badge that looks as though it is an Appeals Court badge. This comes from the Russian site Samler.ru, World Faleristics and Militaria - International Militaria Forums (https://sammler.ru/index.php?/topic/125130-арабский-орден-египет-знак-судьи/). This image was posted by Artemii on 28 February 2013 in a section identified as "Arab Countries". The person posting this had no information on the item. A commenter in 2014 eventually identified this as an Egyptian Mixed Courts badge. There is no information about the maker, however, the calligraphy on the central tablet matches Froment-Meurice Group 1. Although not a high resolution photo, the workmanship is consistent with Froment-Meurice badges. The tugra in the Order of Medjidie is oriented correctly, showing an ~30° clockwise rotation of the superior tuğ elements. These characteristics also are distinctive to Froment-Meurice pieces. The tugra on Rudolf Stobbe and Wolf Horowitz made badges are inverted. Those on Zivy Fréres & Cie are oriented correctly. While most other badges with known makers, and most of those whose manufacturers I am still trying to identify, all show the tugra in the correct orientation with a vertical position of the tuğs, most of the Froment-Meurice badges show the 30° clockwise tilt of the tuğ elements. The visible stain dots on the far left of the left hemisphere on the central tablet, and a couple of additional small stains, are fairly distinctive and indicate I have not encountered a photo of this badge before. Moderate-resolution photo contributed by a commentator (nickstrenk, an active contributor here on GMIC) of 6 March 2013. Although this image is in the same post as the above one started by Artemii on 28 February, 2013, this is not the reverse of the above gilt badge. This image is probably originally from a past eMedals auction of the same badge, item W0248 (https://www.emedals.com/products/egypt-judicial-badge-w0248). Some of the eMedals photos of this badge also are archived on the MedalBook website (https://www.medalbook.com/middle-east/egypt/badges-insignia/judicial-badge/judicial-badge-in-silver-2), SKU: 04.EGY.0101.102.01. Both eMedals and MedalBook shows what appears to be a silver badge, although the brief descriptions on both websites suggests it is a gold and silver (District Courts) badge. The photo(s) of the reverse shows the same stains as seen on the image above. This particular unmarked badge is of superior workmanship, but was not made by Froment-Meurice. I previously illustrated this particular badge 2nd and 3rd-to-last photos in my post of 24 March, 2017; I discussed it in my my the post here of 6 September, 2021 with the 7th & 8th-to-last images in that post; and I discussed the reversed position of the tugra in the Order of Medjidie element on this badge under the 2nd-to-last photo of my post on 7 September, 2021. A higher-resolution photo of the obverse is archived on the Noonans Mayfair website from an 18 May, 2011 auction, Lot 503 (https://www.noonans.co.uk/auctions/archive/lot-archive/results/199538/?keywords=Egypt&discipline=Medals&category=&date_on=18+May+2011&date_start=&date_end=&lot_no=503). Edited September 12 by Rusty Greaves
Rusty Greaves Posted October 28 Author Posted October 28 (edited) I came across images of a gold Appeals Court badge made by Wolf Horovitz on a Russian auction site, Znak https://www.znak-auction.ru/limg2.htm?c=d94820&n=1). The first four images below come from the 14 February, 2014 auction (25) by Znak, Lot 47. High-resolution image of the obverse of this Horovitz-made Appeals Court badge. The description identifies the maker as Horovitz, an image of the reverse shows the maker's mark, and an image of the badge in its case shows the W. Horvitz name on the inside of the upper lid. The description has some odd information about the assay hallmarks on the reverse, but gives the material correctly as gilt silver (vermeil), the size as 115 high x 86 mm, and weight as 189.50 g. The calligraphy of the central tablet does not match that seen on most other badge identified as being made by Horovitz (see the 14th-17th photos in my post of 6 September, 2022 on this thread). The calligraphy closely matches that seen on the Mahmoud Saïd badge (shown as the 23rd photo in my post of 6 September, 2022), possibly helping to identify his badge as potentially being made by Wolf Horovitz. Compare the calligraphy to the 5th photo below that is the central table of the Mahmoud Saïd badge. Horovitz-made badges seem to show the greatest amount of variability among the few internet images I have found, compared with other makers of these badges. It is unclear in the above photo whether the oak and laurel branches are gilt (see the 3rd photo below in this post where those branches appear to be silver). When enlarged, it is visible that the tugra in the Order of Medjidie element is upside down, as seen on all other Horovitz and Rudolf Stobbe Mixed Courts badges. Moderately-high resolution image of the reverse of this Wolf Horovitz Appeals Court badge. The name "HOROVITZ" is clearly stamped above the 2 rivets. The 3 Egyptian silver hallmarks are struck upside down compared with the correct orientation of the badge. They show a mark for 900 silver (I can't tell if the first mark indicates the Cairo or Alexandria assay office), the cat mask for Egyptian-made silver, and what appears to be a date hallmark of "M"=1937-1938. I don't know if the Arabic characters suggest this badge may have belonged to an Egyptian judge of the Appeals Court. The Znak description claims that this Mixed Courts badge belonged to M. Puech, along with another medal in the auction, Lot 47 that is one of the French commemorative Justice Medals, using an obverse design by A. Borrel and a wreath on the reverse designed by H. Dubois. The obverse design has been used for a variety of justice medals since ~ the mid 19th century to at least the early 21st century. Lot 47 is inscribed on the reverse with "TRIBUNAL DE LA SEINE, M. PUECH · VICE PRÉSIDENT". There is no date on that commemorative medal (some issues do have dates, usually on the reverse). I have not found a second example of the M. Puech medal. I have not found an online biography of M. Puech. Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Puech) identifies Louis Puech (1851-1947) as a lawyer who held government positions and was a conseiller municipal for Paris 1893-1898 and a député for the Seine from 1989-1932. André Puech (1885-1960) was an avocat á la Cour of the 3e arrondissement de Paris from 1921-1944. No M. Puech is listed in the 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). That only means he had not served on the Appeals Court prior to January-February 1926 when that anniversary volume was published. I do not find his name in other publications postdating 1926 and that were written after the closing of the Mixed Courts on 14 October, 1949. I cannot evaluate whether M. Puech may have been a member of the Mixed Courts and would have been the owner of this badge. The "M" on the reverse of the judical commemorative medal may stand for Monsieur rather than a first name. Another Wikipedia article (https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_des_conseillers_généraux_de_la_Seine) identifies Louis Puech as the Président du Conseil général de la Seine (1918-1919) and Président du Conseil municipal de Paris (1922-1923 & 1940). It also provides slightly different dates for his birth and death (1859-1945, and gives his initial appointment as 1908). The appointment dates for Louis Puech to other positions seem to preclude any potential role on the Egyptian Mixed Courts. Puech (André or Louis) might have owned this badge as a collector's item, but he probably was not a judge on the Mixed Tribunals. High-resolution photo of this same Appeals Court badge resting in the medal bed of its case. In this image, the oak and laurel branches appear to be silver with no vermeil. The inscription on the inside of the upper lid identifies the address of Wolf Horovitz's shop: "W. Horovitz, 26 Rue Chérif Pasha, Alexandrie". The case is in very good condition. High-resolution image of the closed case showing the outside of the upper lid. Above is the cropped image of the central tablet of the badge belonging to the Mahmoud Saïd badge (shown as the 23rd phot in my post of 6 September, 2022). The original image came from from the appendix to an art volume publication on Mahmoud Saïd’s paintings (Didier Hess, Valérie & Hussam Rashwan (eds.), 2016. Mahmoud Saïd: Catalogue Raisonné Volume 2. Drawings. Skira Editore, S.p.A., Milano. [distributed in the USA, Canada, & South America by Rizzoli International Publications, Inc. New York; distributed elsewhere by Thames & Hudson Ltd. London]. Plate A 177, pg. 865 [incorrectly identified as a “Medal of Justice”]. ©2016 Valérie Didier Hess; ©2016 Dr. Hussam Rashwan; ©2016 Mahmoud Saïd Estate; ©2016 Skira editore). The calligraphy is similar, but not identical, to that on the District Court badge made by Horovitz that I illustrated as the 1st photo in my post of 27 May, 2022 and in the 1st-3rd photos and the 5th photo (cropped view of the central tablet and the upside down tugra in my post of 17 June, 2022 on this thread that came from the Facebook page of Hamdy Charmy Photography (https://www.facebook.com/H.Charmyphotography/photos/pb.100063747398706.-2207520000../1694086190745364/?type=3). As noted, this may suggest that the Mahmoud Saïd badge may have been made by Horovitz, reducing the number of unidentified makers of these badges to 4. Cropped image of the calligraphy on the central tablet and the incorrectly oriented tugra in the Order of Medjidie design element of Hamdy Charmy's Horovitz-made District Courts badge. This is the 5th photo from my post of 17 June, 2022 on this thread. The Hamdy Charmy badge is shown in a case similar to the Znak example with Horovitz's same and address on the interior of the upper lid. The calligraphy on the Znak example also is similar to that on the Horovitz District Court badge illustrated as the first image in my post of 10 August, 2024 on this thread. That photo, shown above, is from an Arabic language Facebook site, titled the "Egypt Historical Guide" (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=658578132962867&set=a.702389416471411.1073742467.233719140005110). The original photo is of low-quality, so it is not simple to compare with the Znak badge. Edited October 31 by Rusty Greaves
Rusty Greaves Posted October 28 Author Posted October 28 (edited) Above is a low-resolution image of silver and gold District Courts badge from a 23 October, 2022 post on an Arabic language Facebook page called "Heart Eyes" ("عيون القلب"): https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=633430158475027&set=a.633430128475030. The same images also was uploaded to this Facebook page on 18 December, 2016 (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=784999381641169&set=pb.100054241460188.-2207520000). There is no information associated with this image. The cropping on Facebook cut off some of the inferior embellishment and the crescent and star on the superior portion of the crown and some of the superior embellishment. The calligraphy is most similar to what I have called Froment-Meurice Group 2 (see the 5th-9th photos in my post of 6 September, 2021 on this thread). Edited October 29 by Rusty Greaves
Rusty Greaves Posted October 31 Author Posted October 31 (edited) I have finally located a photo of one of the American Judges on the Mixed Courts with one of the most interesting names in U.S. politics, Somerville Pinkney Tuck (24 Sept, 1848-14 April, 1923), along with his flamboyant mustaches, wearing his judicial regalia. The above undated photo comes from an Ancestry.com contribution by his descendants (https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/90902621/person/75019188623/media/9e740009-065b-4782-a2b2-0750268cf3e5?galleryindex=2&sort=-created). Somerville Pinkney Tuck was nominated by U.S. President Grover Cleveland to the Mixed Courts and named to the District Court of Mansourah on 6 May, 1894. He was transferred to the District Court in Cairo on 2 December, 1897. The Khedive (Abbas Hilmi II) made him a delegate to the Universal Congress of Lawyers and Jurists at the World’s Fair in St. Louis, 28-30 September, 1904. He was promoted to Conseiller (Legal Advisor) to the Appeals Court on 9 November, 1908. While still serving on the Appeals Court, h was was made a Member of the International Commission who planned reforms to the Mixed Courts for the anticipated end of Capitulations. On November 11, 1911, Tuck was assigned to the Legislative Assembly created by Khedivial decree within the Mixed Courts to resolve issues that Lord Cromer's proposed reforms failed to effect in the wake of his retirement. Tuck retired from the Courts on 31 October, 1920 after reaching the mandatory retirement age for the Appeals Court (he was 72). Jasper Yeates Brinton (1930, The Mixed Courts of Egypt, Yale University Press, New Haven, pg. 86) states that the retirement age for judges in the Appeals Court was 70 and 65 for judges on the District Courts. In this above image of Tuck's Olympic-class slouching capability, he wears the black stambouline coat, maroon tarboosh, and red sash (of the District Courts). His badge in this photo would have been the gold and silver version of the District Courts' judges. The medals he is wearing on his stambouline are, from the center of his chest running L-R in the viewer's perspective: the Insignia of the Society of the Cincinnati; the 4th Class Officer of the French Legion of Honor (awarded in 1889) and the 2nd Class Officer of the French Order of Academic Palms. This photo must have been taken between the 1889 award to Tuck of the 4th Class Legion of Honor and the 1900 award of the 3rd Class Commander of the Legion of Honor. 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) state he was awarded the 2nd Class Grand Officer of the Order of the Nile (Appendix 1, pg IV). His grave cover in the Menton Castle Cemetery in France (the Cimetière du Vieux Chateau, Menton, Departement des Alpes-Maritimes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur) only lists his honors as a "Member of the Society of the Cincinnati" and Comandeur de la Legion d'Honneur. Above is an example of one of the variants of the Insignia of The Society of the Cincinnati, from a Find a Grave listing for Dr. Thomas Earle Van Metre Jr. (1936-1996) buried in Rhode Island (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/153080846/thomas-earle-van_metre). The Society of the Cincinnati is the oldest patriotic organization in the United States, founded on 13 May, 1783 by officers of the Continental Army who had served in the Revolutionary War. (https://www.societyofthecincinnati.org). Also see the GMIC thread "Insignia of the society of the Cincinnati", started by g_deploige on 31 January, 2007 in the "United States of America" section under the "Rest of the World: Medals & Militaria" heading. There are several variants of the medals' designs through time. Additional images and descriptions of this award are available on The Society of the Cincinnati website: https://www.americanrevolutioninstitute.org/discover-the-collections/society-of-the-cincinnati-eagles/; https://www.societyofthecincinnati.org/the-society-of-the-cincinnati-eagle/; and at https://americanrevolutioninstitute.pastperfectonline.com/webobject/711D7192-BBDC-4CF6-98EA-845427852144. Above is the most well-know and commonly reproduced image of Judge Somerville Pinkney Tuck. It comes from: Harrison, Thomas Skelton, 1917. The Homely Diary of a Diplomat in the East, 1897-1899. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. This portrait is between pp. 44 and 45. It also is archived on Wikimedia (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=Judge+Somerville+Pinkney+Tuck+(1848-1923)&title=Special:MediaSearch&go=Go&type=image) and Picryl (https://picryl.com/media/judge-somerville-pinkney-tuck-1848-1923-d6ebce). Tuck was considered an important and well-respected lawyer and jurist in his day. Edited October 31 by Rusty Greaves
Rusty Greaves Posted November 4 Author Posted November 4 (edited) A gold & silver District Court badge made by Froment-Meurice was auctioned on 30 October, 2024 by Kodner Galleries of Florida (Auction 313), and the auction is archived on the Bidsquare website (https://www.bidsquare.com/online-auctions/kodner/emile-froment-meurice-french-1837-1913-6756539). This listing is only remarkable because it includes some good close-up photographs of parts of the badge and especially as it shows that the Order of Medjidie element near the inferior margin of the badge was a separate element of the badge construction. Moderately high-resolution photo of the obverse of the Kodner Galleries Mixed Courts badge on a plastic display stand. Note the vermeil of the embellishment, the fringe and embroidery on the mantle, parts of the crown, the cords and tassels of the upper corners of the mantle, the star above the central tablet, the 2 tugs, the oak and laurel branches, and the wreath around the Order of Medjiidie. The missing tugra within the Order of Medjidie is obvious, and the hole indicates that, at least on Froment-Meurice badges, this was a separate construction element. I did not know this before. Additionally, there is damage to some of the enamel on several parts of the inscription. The auction description identifies the height as 4-1/2 inches (114.3 mm) x 3-3/8 inches wide (85.7 mm) and its weight as approximately 146.33 g. Additional high-resolution image of the obverse of this same badge (the staining on the central tablet is identical to the photo above). I do not know why the badge appears all-silver and none of the gilt is apparent. There is some color in this image, and it is the same badges (note some reddish coloration also matches, especially apparent around the star, surrounding the superior elements on the 2 tugs, and on a part of an embellishment ray framed by the tassel cord loop on the upper left side of the mantle), but I do not know what color manipulation may have been done so that the gold is not visible. This photo shows the attachment hole for the Order of Medjidie element better than in the previous image. High-resolution image of the central tablet inscription. The calligraphy most closely matches that which I have called Froment-Meurice Group 2 (see the 4th-9th images in my post of 6 September, 2021 on this thread). Damage causing loss of some areas of the enamel can be readily seen in this photo. Above is a high-resolution image of the superior crown element of this badge. The above high-resolution image shows the upper left of the badge, detailing the tassels and tie of that corner of the mantle and the left side of the central tablet. Reverse of the Kodner badge showing the "FROMENT-*EURICE" name. The description states that a maker's hallmark also is present on the reverse. However, no description nor photo are included. Presumably, this hallmark should be the "Froment-Meurice" name in a diamond with a rose between the two names (see the 3 photos in my post of 25 May, 2021 on this thread). Edited November 5 by Rusty Greaves
Rusty Greaves Posted November 14 Author Posted November 14 (edited) Although I am not a collector, I have tremendously enjoyed and benefited from the interactions with more knowledgable colleagues here on GMIC. Because of the fun I've had researching the Mixed Courts badges, I did buy a Mixed Court badge this past spring (see my 2nd post of 26 March, 2024 on this thread). Despite my research and interest, the Crabitès badge will stay with another part of my wife's family, so I did want a material example of this beautiful badge I have spent so much time investigating. I also am posting here a better quality image of this badge than the one I included as the 8th photo in that 26 March post, and an image of the framing of it that I recently had done. The framed Froment-Meurice District Court badge marked with the makers' hallmark "FROMENT-MEURICE" on the reverse of the badge and the interior case lid, also imarked with the Froment-Meurice name and shop address. I bought that Mixed Courts badge. It is marked on the reverse with a piece of paper marked "F.R." and the outer case upper lid also is marked "F.R.". The only judge I was able to match with the "F.R." initials was the Spanish Judge Frédéric Rauret y Sugastres. He was also commonly known to go by Frédéric Rauret, and I provided detailed information on his appointment to the Egyptian Mixed Courts in that post of 26 March. There is a cabinet card portrait of Judge Rauret y Sugastres in my 26 March post (the 4th photo) that came from an archive in the the New York State Library Manuscripts and Special Collections in Albany, NY, USA of an American judge on the Mixed Courts, George Sherman Batcheller (shown in my post of 24 June, 2024 on this thread). Judge Rauret y Sugastres was originally appointed to the Mixed Courts in 1892 (to Mansourah) and to Alexandria (in 1897). He retired from the Courts for health reasons in 1904. As noted in that previous post, Judge Rauret y Sugastres served during the period when Froment-Meurice made badges were readily available (1875-1907, the date of his retirement or possibly until his death in the collapse of his mansion in 1913). The listings I consult on judges and other staff on the Mixed Courts was published in the 50th anniversary volume about the Mixed Courts in 1926 (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), so it should represent a complete roster of individuals who may have obtained a Froment-Meurice badge from the maker. How many such badges were available after Froment-Meurice's retirement and subsequent untimely death are unknown. Unlike Egyptian Royal Orders, there does not appear to have been any rule requiring retiring judges to return their Court insignia when they left their positions. I am looking at some of the Egyptian-made badges where auction photos of the reverse provide images of sufficient resolution to read the Cairo assay dates and try to get a ballpark idea of when they were made (and possibly whether any decreased availability of the Parisian-made Froment-Meurice badges spurred some of the Egyptian-based ateliers production of these badges). However, there are not many such photographs, and not all are high-enough-resolution, so I only have a small sample of the date hallmarks for non-Froment-Meurice made badges. Above is a higher-resolution picture of this Judge Frédéric Rauret y Sugastres' District Courts badge than the one I posted in that 26 March, 2024 post. The photo appears to show a prominent scratch on the middle right off the central calligraphic tablet, between the 4th and 5th alif vertical strokes from the right. However, this is a consequence of one of the very fine scratches from normal wear that picked up by the low late afternoon light when I had my tripod set up, it is not a prominent feature of the minimal wear on this badge. I am happy to have such a beautiful example that is associated with its case and the pretty secure attribution to a particular Mixed Courts judge. I want to thank the many generous contributors to this thread for your help and guidance as I staggered onto some wobbly sea legs stumbling along into some phaleristics fun, and for the gentle prods not to be afraid of collecting and the additional material burdens through life it entails. Edited November 14 by Rusty Greaves 1
oamotme Posted November 20 Posted November 20 Rusty, Your research into the Courts Badge - its variations, manufacturers and recipients is admirable and to be applauded. Some may regard the badge as a niche topic but much of what is posted on GMIC is niche. The sharing of your research and indeed elsewhere on GMIC by other enthusiasts and their topics provides an invaluable service not only to us as collectors but to all who have an interest in history of how people have been recognised for their service and how their roles are designated or marked. As I have noted before your should publish an illustrated book on the topic. Thank you for your research and importantly for sharing it with us all. Owain 1
ChrisW Posted November 21 Posted November 21 Rusty, I want to echo Owain’s comments. Your work here exemplifies the best aspects of enthusiasm, passion, expertise, deep research, and sharing. It lies at the intersection of numerous fascinating topics ranging from family history, colonial history, legal history, and Egyptian history. It does need to be a book, website, or something. Many thanks for all you do, Chris
Rusty Greaves Posted November 23 Author Posted November 23 (edited) I have been looking at portraits of Danish judges on the Egyptian Mixed Courts over the last week. I found another cabinet card image of Judge Carl Valdemar Kraft in his Court regalia by Studio Reiser of Alexandria that was probably made at the same time as the other Reiser cabinet card of Kraft that I included as the 2nd image in my post of 5 March, 2019 (and the 12th image in my post of 18 April, 2019). The above cabinet portrait is curated in the image collection of the Royal Danish Library (Det Kongelige Bibliotek). From: http://www5.kb.dk/images/billed/2010/okt/billeder/object463029/en/. The ID for this photo is: DP019031.tif; and the Shelf Number (call number) for it is: Image Collection. Danish Portrait, 8°, Kraft, Carl Valdemar (1849-1924), in Danish: Billedsamlingen. Danske portrætter, 8°, Kraft, C. (1849-1924). This photo is free of any copyright. The same portrait also is included with a listing of Carl Valdemar Kraft on the genealogical site Geni (https://www.geni.com/people/Carl-Valdemar-Kraft/6000000014936894273). The Royal Danish Library estimates this portrait was created between ~1840 and 1898 (1898 is the death date of the Romanian photographer Andreas D. Reiser, although his son Lucien and a partner, Anton Binder, continued to run the studio in Alexandria until 1914). Reiser opened his photographic studio in Alexandria in 1894. Carl V. Kraft was first appointed to the Mixed Court of Mansourah in 1896 and he was transferred to Cairo in 1901. He served as Vice-Presidebnt of the Cairo District Court in 1908-1912 and again from 1914-1916. He was the President of the Cairo Court from 1916-1920. He retired from the Courts in 1920, having reached the mandatory retirement age (70). A resolution in 1902 reserved him a role as an assessor extraordinaire on the Danish Supreme Court. However, Judge Kraft did not fill this position upon his retirement and died in Egypt. This photo is likely to have been taken early in Judge Kraft's career with the Mixed Courts, so a more refined and realistic ballpark set of dates is ~1896-1870. As noted, I also posted another cabinet card portrait of Judge Kraft in his judicial regalia as the as the 2nd image in my post of 5 March, 2019 and as the 3rd-to-last image (12th) in my post of 18 April, 2019 on this thread (and shown again below). That Reiser portrait likely comes from the same sitting as the first image above in today’s post. Although there are a few differences in the appearance of the collar area of the stambouline coat between the above and below Reiser Studio images, the one below is from a slightly angled perspective from Kraft's left side and may mask the open coat collar and horizontal fastener seen in the above image. The folds in the sash appear to be identical in both portraits. His tarboosh is cocked to Kraft's right ear in both photos. Judge Kraft also appears to be the same age in both studio images. In my 18 April, 2019 post here, the 2nd-to-last photo (13th) is a portrait of Kraft from 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, Février 1926), identifying him as the President of the Cairo Court in his last 4 years, 1916-1920. The anniversary volume consistently spells his name incorrectly as "Karl Valdemar Kraft". That Presidential portrait shows Kraft with grey head and facial hair (a mustache & “soul patch” in modern post-jazz parlance, probably formerly known as a form of “imperial”, but now termed in the US as either a “walrus with soul patch” or, with a more luxurious soul patch growth, the “Zappa beard”). The last image in the 18 April, 2019 post (14th photo) also is from the 50th anniversary volume showing Kraft with the other judges on the Cairo District Court in 1909. Kraft also has a grey mustache in this earlier 1909 group portrait. This same portrait shown above also is used on the Geni genealogical site entry for Carl Valdemar Kraft (https://www.geni.com/people/Carl-Valdemar-Kraft/6000000014936894273). Above is the other Reiser Studio cabinet card portrait of Judge Carl Valdemar Kraft (noted as previously posted here on this GMIC thread in my posts of 5 March, 2019 and 18 April, 2019). As noted above, this image was probably taken at the same time as the first cabinet card image in this post from the Royal Danish Library. Thie above portrait shows details of the full sash and decorative bow of his judicial costumer quite well and illustrates the other regalia clearly: the maroon tarboosh, black stambouline coat, red sash with a gold metallic thread border and fringe, and the gold and silver Mixed Courts' badge. I found this cabinet card inside of a copy of the posthumous autobiography of the Norwegian Judge Michael Hansson, 1946, Egypt: 25 år I Egypt (25 Years in Egypt). Forlagt Av. H. Aschehoug & Co., (W. Nygaard), Oslo. I have posted often on this thread about this illustrious member of the Egyptian Mixed Courts. This copy of Hansson's autobiography was apparently owned by Carl V. Kraft's brother (Rudolph Kraft) whose name is inscribed on the front endpaper, and is dated to April, 1948). All of the edges of this cabinet card are gilt. The card measures 165 mm tall x 105 mm wide (most likely, the 1st illustrated cabinet card by Reiser also is the same size). Although the 1926 50th anniversary volume Les Juridictions Mixtes d'Égypte 1876-1926: spelled Kraft's first name "Karl", other sources, including his own brother's writing on the reverse of this cabinet card, spell his given name "Carl". Reverse of the same Reiser cabinet card portrait found inside the Hansson autobiography owned by Rudolph Kraft. I have not previously illustrated the reverse of this cabinet card here on GMIC. On the middle-lower-left is Rudolph Kraft's notation of his brother's name and life dates (born 30 May, 1849-died 3 December, 1924). I am uncertain what the dated notation at the top is (from 25 December, 1996/1896?). At the far upper right it appears that "Rud Kraft·" is written, probably meaning Rudolph Kraft. This handwriting on the reverse of this cabinet card matches Rudolph Kraft's inscription in the 1946 Hansson volume I have. Carl Valdemar Kraft apparently never married (several censuses identify him as single) and had no children I can identify. He had five sisters but only two brothers who could have contributed the Kraft name to descendants (https://www.myheritage.com/research?formId=master&useTranslation=1&exactSearch=0&action=query&qname=Name+fn.%2F3Frederik%2F3Wilhelm%2F3+ln.Kraft&qevents-event1=Event+et.any+ep.Copenhagen&qevents=List). Information on Rudolph Kraft is slim. he may have been born in 1846 or 1847, but I cannot identify any independent information on his death date. It does appear that he inscribed the Hansson book in April 1948. Judge Kraft's other brother, Frederic Wilhelm Kraft (1840-1881), had two sons, neither named Rudolph (Carl Adolf Kraft [1876-1976] and Frederic Wilhelm Kraft [1879-1962]: https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-1-446760481-9-500893/frederik-wilhelm-kraft-in-myheritage-family-trees). Was this a Christmas gift to a descendant either named Rudolph or just another member of the Kraft family? It is tough to access names & dates of Frederic Kraft's grandchildren, as these mostly derive from pay-firewall genealogy websites. Does the inscription (if 1996) identify that the cabinet card portrait was from Rudolph Kraft and was being passed along (later?) to another member of the family in 1996? All of the black ink lettering in the upper right half closely resembles the Rudolph Kraft inscription in the 1946 Hansson book and the other writing bracketing Judge Krafts birth and death. Only a few components of the the handwriting of numbers are slightly different on this date that may be 1996. First, the flourished form of the "9" in "96" is not seen in Judge Kraft's death year "1924" (and in the book inscription of "1948·"); second, the way the slash between month number and year ("25/12. 96 .") is diagonal on this date is potentially different from the more horizontal line situating the day above the month followed by the fully written out year (in both the lifespan dates of Judge Kraft on the reverse of this card and in the Hansson book inscription). There are only a couple other "1"s and "2"s to compare. None of the "2"s in the 25/12. 96 ." show the full embellishments at each termination as seen in the "12/3 1924" death date for Judge Kraft. The "2" in "25" has a single added line at the termination of the "2" on the left. The "2" in "12." has only one line possibly added at the initiation of the "2". The "."s after dates and the "Kraft·" name also is present in the Hansson book inscription "Rudolph Kraft· 4 [over] 1948·" Above is a photo of the Cairo District Court in 1909. This is from the 50th anniversary volume Les Juridictions Mixtes d'Égypte 1876-1926, on pg. 189. Carl Valdemar Kraft is seated in the front row, 2nd-from-the-viewer's left. The other judges are listed in the caption under the photo in my post of 18 April, 2019. A judge who is mentioned below in my post of 24 November, 2024, Julius Cornelis Theodorus Heyligers, is standing in the second row at the far right in a hat with a dark mustache. I included this group photo as the 14th image (last) in my post of 18 April, 2019 on this thread. The above photo is from a section of the 50th anniversary volume celebrating the Mixed Courts (Les Juridictions Mixtes d'Égypte 1876-1926) on pg. 48 in a section illustrating all of the past Presidents of the District Courts up through February, 1926 when that volume was published. The dates of Judge Kraft's service as President of the Cairo Court are identified (1916-1920) and note the incorrect spelling of his first name as "Karl", repeated in other listings of Kraft in this book. It is most likely that this portrait photo was taken during Kraft's tenure as President of this Court, probably early in that role as the Courts documented their history. Again, I previously used this as the 13th image of my post of 18 April, 2019 (2nd-to-last). Edited November 25 by Rusty Greaves
Rusty Greaves Posted November 23 Author Posted November 23 (edited) Above is an uncropped and higher-resolution image of a Froment-Meurice gold and silver Mixed District Courts badge than the slightly cropped and lower resolution photo of the same badge that I included in my post of 28 October, 2024 on this thread. That lower-resolution image in my 28 October post is from 2 other Facebook pages. This comes from 12 November post on a Facebook page of Armut Mezat (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=545850388412846&set=g.1160182087369052). This image can be zoomed for some additional details. This higher-resolution photo does shows the tugra in the Order of Medjidie element is in the correct orientation, rotated just slightly to the right. This helps confirm the indications that this is a Frement-Meurice-made badge. No additional information or photos are provided on this Facebook post. Edited November 25 by Rusty Greaves
Rusty Greaves Posted November 25 Author Posted November 25 (edited) Enzo posted the above photo of his gold and silver District Mixed Courts badge, made by Froment-Meurice, as the 3rd image of his post of 25 May, 2021 on this thread: He posted one image of the obverse and 2 photos of the reverse. The 3rd photo in Enzo's post (shown above) has the initials “JH” engraved (casually) in the superior central portion of the badge, inside the squared-off part of the depression on the reverse. The reverse of this badge also is of interest because it is stamped both "FROMENT-MEURICE" but also has the diamond-shaped French maker's hallmark which contains a rose resting laterally with the name "FROMENT above the rose and MEURICE below it (see the threee images in my post of 25 May, 2021). I responded to Enzo's post on 25 May 2021 with some information about the only 4 judges in District Courts with the initials “JH” that I could find in 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, Février 1926. I also checked whether any Appeals Court judges might have had those initials. I did not uncover anyone else with these initials on that Court listed in the 50th anniversary volume. Although the Les Juridictions Mixtes d'Égypte 1876-1926 volume only lists Court staff from the initiation of the Courts in 1875 thorough the February 1926 publication date, this is not such a handicap for researching potential owners of Froment Meurice-made badges. While some badges may have been returned (where?) after a few judges retired, it seems that many judges (and probably other Mixed Court staff who wore silver badges) kept their badges. As Émile Froment-Meurice retired in 1907 and died in 1913, presumably fewer badges from Maison Froment-Meurice would have been available after that date. I have not found any evidence that his successor, Georges Auger, continued to make any Mixed Courts badges after he purchased the atelier in 1907 and moved it from 372 rue San Honoré, Paris to 54 rue Etienne Marcel (see my post on this thread of15 August, 2019). As noted in that 15 August 2019 post, after purchasing the Froment-Meurice atelier in 1907, Auger-made pieces were marked Auger-Froment Meurice, a name that is not present on any Mixed Courts badges or cases that I have been ablel to see online. The Froment-Meurice badges were directly available 1875-1907, and possibly until his death in 1913. These badges are most likely represented more among judges from those years than after Froment-Meurice’s retirement and death. Other manufacturer’s, especially Rudolfe Stobbe (Alexandria), Wolf Horovitz (Alexandria), Zivy Frères & Cie. (Alexandria), provided badges to judges and Mixed Courts staff. My research has identified two cast versions (presumably less expensive) that were made by D. Ialanos, A. de Leo, and A, Kassandrinos of Alexandria. (see my post of 3 February, 2022 on this thread). A business card for another jeweller, F.lli F. & V. Rusciano, has the motto “Experts près les Tribunaux Mixte” (experst at [to] the Mixed Courts), although I have not yet identified any badges made by this atelier in Cairo. Additionally, there are 4 manufacturers whose badges I have seen online, but cannot be matched to the other known makers. My 25 May, 2021 post on this thread responding to Enzo's images lists the four District Court judges with the initials “JH” and gives a précis of their careers on the Mixed Courts. I have recently found photos of 2 of these judges, and a small amount of additional information on 3 of them, so I wanted to reprise the information about the potential original owners of Enzo’s badge. Below I include the additional photos and information I have found about these four judges. I do not have a prejudice about which of these 4 Judges is more likely to be the original owner of the "JH" badge. I do feel, given the completeness of the 50th anniversary volume's listing from 1875-1926 and the probability that Froment-Meurice badges were most available before 1926, that these four judges are the best candidates to have worn Enzo's badge. The history of the badge's provenance is all that may be able to resolve the question "Who was J. H.?". Just Johan Holten (24 May, 1831-1 February, 1916): Above is an undated cabinet card photo of Judge Just Johan Holten of Denmark in his Mixed District Courts regalia. His name is sometimes spelled Juste-Jean, but more often appears as Just Johan Holten (including on his posthumous autobiography: Holten, Just Johan, 1923, I Dansk og Ægyptsk Statstjeneste [“In Danish and Egyptian Civil Service”], compiled, edited, and published by Carl Dumreicher, M. P. Madens Boghandel, København, and a short biographical work by his son: Holten, Knud, 1916, Just Johan Holten. J.H. Schultz, Copenhagen). This photo is from the Émile Béchard studio that operated in Cairo 1869-1880 before moving back to France and operating in Hyères and Marseille from 1881-1897. This cabinet card portrait is curated in the image collection of the Royal Danish Library (Det Kongelige Bibliotek): http://www5.kb.dk/images/billed/2010/okt/billeder/object460032/da/. The ID for this photo is: DP016037.tif and the Shelf Number (call number) for this is: Image Collection. Danish Portrait, 8°, Holten, Just Johan (1831-1916), in Danish: Billedsamlingen. Danske portrætter, 8°, Holten, Just Johan (1831-1916). This photo may be protected by a copyright, although the source states that is unlikely. Judge Holten was the Former Minister of Foreign Affairs in Denmark prior to being nominated to the Egyptian Mixed Courts. He was initially named to Ismailia on 15 April, 1876 and was transferred to the District Court of Cairo on 27 January, 1878. Holten was transferred to the Court in Mansourah on 12 June, 1878, and then to the District Court in Alexandria on 3 January, 1882. He was called back to service for the Danish government on 1 July, 1883. Holten’s short tenure on the Mixed Courts was during the period when Froment-Meurice Court badges were being made and would have been readily available. (1875-1913). In the above portrait, his neck badge appears to be the Ottoman Order of Medjidie, either the 2nd Class Grand Officer or the 3rd Class Commander. The medal closest to the center of his chest is the Order of Dannebrog, there appears to be no rosette on the ribbon indicating the Knight Class (not the 1st Class Knight). He received this award in 1869. I do not know what the 2nd medal is. The 3rd medal on Holten’s chest might be the silver cross of the Decoration of the Cross of Honor of Dannebrog, but the edge view makes it impossible to be certain. Wikidata (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q108748423) identifies that Holten was awarded the Decoration of the Cross of Honor of Dannebrog in 1898, citing Dansk Biografisk Leksikon, 3rd edition. The 4th chest badge looks like the Kingdom of Italy Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus. I do not see a crown suspension element (which would indicate the Knight Officer Class), so I suspect it is the Knight (5th Class?). I have found very little biographical information about the honors awarded to Holten. Above is an in an undated photo of the Mixed District Court of Mansourah (“Judges in Mansourah”). This is a plate in the Holten posthumous autobiography (Holten, Just Johan, 1923, I Dansk og Ægyptsk Statstjeneste [“In Danish and Egyptian Civil Service”]. Published by Carl Dumreicher, M. P. Madens Boghandel, København), between pp. 256-257. Most of the men in this photo are judges with solid color sashes (red). There are 3 men with bicolored sashes (red and green) who represent other Court official (i.e., clerks): the 2 men standing in the back row on the left and the man in the back row standing at the far right. Although not identified in the text or caption, Just Johan Holten appears to be seated in the front row 2nd from the viewer’s left with folded arms. Holten served on this Court between June 1878-June 1883. However, the 1923 publication date of this plate and lack of photo identification of subjects makes the identification of Holten uncertain. The judge in the front row 3rd from the viewer’s right resembles Somerville Pinkney Tuck with his great mustaches (see the 1st photo of him in my post on this thread of 30 October, 2024). However, Tuck did not overlap with Holten on their service to the Courts. Tuck served on his first appointment in Egypt to the Mansourah Court in May 1894-November 1897, then served on the Cairo Court, and finally was legal advisor to the Appeals Court from 1908 until his retirement in 1920. However, the date of the above photo of the Court of Mansourah is currently unknown. It is still most likely that a photo of the Court of Mansourah with Judge Holten would have been selected for his posthumous autobiography, if one was available. The above cabinet card portrait of Just Johan Holten by J. Petersen & Søn studio in Copenhagen also comes from The Royal Library, Copenhagen (http://www5.kb.dk/images/billed/2010/okt/billeder/object460033/en/): ID: DPO16038.tif, Shelf mark: Billedsamlingen. Danske portrætter, 8°, Holten, Just Johan (1831-1916). Another version of this image that has been cropped to exclude the matting is on PICRYL website of public domain collections (https://picryl.com/media/just-johan-holten-by-j-petersen-and-son-72ecbb). The cropped version also is available on Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Just_Johan_Holten_by_J._Petersen_%26_Søn.jpg). The Petersen & Søn atelier was run by Jens Petersen (1829-1905) and Charles Bendix Petersen (1860-1927) in Copenhagen. PICRYL bracketed dates for the photo are between 1880-1905, without explanation. Holten may appear slightly younger in the above image than the portrait of him in his posthumous autobiography (facing pg. 1) that is dated to 1912, but there is little visible difference other than possibly less hair on his frontal regional. The center-most chest mini is probably the Order of Dannebrog. The other mini is likely the Decoration of the Cross of Honor of Dannebrog. This photo is free of any copyright. Jules Firmin Gabriel Herbout (6 March, 1831-19 January, 1930): Was a French judge whose name its sometimes identified as “Fermin Jules Gabriel Herbout". I have not found any photos of Jules Firmin Gabriel Herbout. Judge Herbout was the Former President of the Tribunal of Argentina (Orne). He was named to the Cairo Courts on 27 April, 1876. He was called back to service for his government on 27 September, 1883. Subsequently he served on the Tribunal of the Seine. Some census documents I have seen identify him as a judge on Tribunal de La Seine in 1896. Later censuses (1901 & 1911) identify him as an honorary judge by those dates). Judge Herbout also was a judge early enough in the Courts’ existence to have had ready access to a Froment-Meurice-made badge. Information from the genealogy website Geneanet identified that Jules Firmin Gabriel Herbout was awarded the Knight Class of the French légion d'honneur in May, 1877. He was made an officer of the légion d'honneur in a decree of 18 July, 1923 (https://gw.geneanet.org/pneuvise?n=herbout&oc=&p=jules+firmin+gabriel&_gl=1*xa2pbi*_gcl_au*OTI4ODA3MzEuMTczMDMzMDY2Mw..*_ga*MTcxMTkzMjYxOC4xNzMwMzMwNjY3*_ga_LMK6K2LSJH*ZmU0M2VjZWYtNGQ4Zi00NzJhLWEwMDEtNzhlZjA4MTRmODYzLjExLjEuMTczMDgyNTM0Ny4wLjAuMA). Jacques Adalbert Haakman (1837-1895) The name of this judge from the Netherlands often is written as Jacques Adelbert Haakman and also commonly latinized to Jacobus Adelbertus Haakman, especially for his publications. I have not found any photos of Judge Haakman. An incident over a Court conflict with Khedive Ismail resulted in the dismissal of Judge Haakman after only serving less than 18 months on the Court. Jacques Adelbert Haakman was a former Substitute for the Prosecutor for the King in Harlem (northern Holland). Named to the District Court of Alexandria 24 June, 1875, dismissed from the Courts by a decision of the General Assembly of the Mixed Court of Appeals on 13 November, 1876. As with the other candidates listed here who might have been the original owner of Enzo’s Mixed Courts badge, Haaakman’s brief and contentious tenure on the Courts was at a time when Froment-Meurice badges would have been readily available. Haakman became embroiled in a very difficult episode in the early years of the Court. The Mixed Courts rendered several opinions on debts that Khedive Ismail had accrued against several estates. The Courts did not recognize a Khedival decree prolonging the periods before repayment, and Ismail did not meet the established repayment schedule. This put the Courts in a very delicate position. Several Egyptian judges withdrew from the hearing feeling that ignoring a Khediuval decree amounted to insurrection against their government. The majority of the Court continued to render judgments against the Khedive and sought diplomatic assistance supporting the establishment of firm schedules for executing judgements and to support the Mixed Courts even in suits against the Egyptian Government. The Courts prevailed, and this episode contributed to the forced abdication and banishment of Khedive Ismail. Judge Haakman took a particularly extreme position about this, causing a difficult, complex, and embarrassing crisis. Haakman tried to challenge his own competency through a convoluted argument that if the law could not be applied equally to all, including the Khedive, then de facto the Courts could no longer operate justly. The Court rejected his argument, and in protest he postponed all meetings, duties, and cases. Haakman's justification was that if law was not being executed according to judgements, then the suspension of all judicial proceedings was necessary. In response, The Appeals Court called him before a General Assembly in October 1876 accused of having refused to render justice and abrogated his other judicial duties and those assigned as alternatives after his initial complaints. Haakman claimed all the judges were disqualified from from rendering an impartial judgement on him and so did not appear for the hearing. He was summarily dismissed from the Mixed Courts. Jasper Yeates Brinton writes briefly about this unfortunate episode at the courts in his important 1930 volume The Mixed Courts of Egypt, Yale University Press, New Haven (pp. 46-50). Brinton, in his usual diplomatic tone, wrote that Haakman (not named) was a Calvinist with an unbending spirit (pg. 49). A Dutch journalist, Gerard Termorshuizen writes that Haakman was notorious for his "irritating egocentrism, delusional self-righteousness, uncollegial behavior and not too much forgotten his ruthless colonial mentality" (Reactionairen en realisten. Een geschiedenis van de Indisch-Nederlandse pers 1905-1942. Amsterdam-Leiden, 2011). Haakman raised concern about the Egyptian government imposing the Mixed Court Ottoman-inspired judicial regalia of the tarboosh, stambouline coat, and the judicial sash, feeling this costume would detract from the international character of the Courts (Haakman, Jacobus A., 1877. Droit international. L’Egypte et les traités internationaux sur la réforme judiciaire. Durand), Paris, pg. 7). Julius Cornelis Theodorus Heyligers (27 December,1850- 25 January, 1920): The above portrait photo of Dutch Judge Heyligers comes from the online version of Onze Hoogleeraren: Portetten en Biografieën (1898) Our Professors: Portraits and Biographies), Nijgh & Van Ditmar, Rotterdam, pg. 340 (https://www.dbnl.org/arch/_onz003onze01_01/pag/_onz003onze01_01.pdf). The record is available on the Digitale Bibliotheek voor de Nederlandse Letteren (DBNL). The Digital Library for Dutch Literature (DBNL) is a digital collection of texts from Dutch literature, linguistics and cultural history, from the earliest times to the present. This image, and the other two below of Julius Cornelis Theodorus Heyligers, also are archived on the PICRYL website (https://garystockbridge617.getarchive.net/amp/topics/julius+cornelis+theodorus+heyligers) and on Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=Julius+Cornelis+Theodorus+Heyligers&title=Special:MediaSearch&go=Go&type=image). Note the striped rosette in Heyligers' left lapel. Wikidata (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q89343648) identifies him as having received the Knight Class Order of the Netherlands Lion (blue and gold ribbon) at an unspecified date and the Knight Class Order of Christ (Portugal, that ribbon is solid red) on 28 October, 1889. Julius Cornelis Theodorus Heyligers was a former professor at the Indische Instelling in Delft (college for colonial administration in Delft, Netherlands) from 1893-1901. He was named to the Court in Mansourah in March 1901, transferred to Cairo in May 1904, and died in Cairo January 1920. Although he came later to Egypt than the other 3 District Court judges outlined here, he still was a District Court judge at the time when Froment-Meurice-made badges could still be obtained new. Heyligers is shown in the last photo of my post of 18 April, 2019 on this thread, standing in the 2nd row furthest to the viewer's R (and as the 4th photo in my recent post above of 22 November, 2024 about Carl Valdemar Kraft). Jasper Yeates Brinton, an American jurist on the Appeals Court, refers to him as "Judge Th. Heyligers" in several places in his important 1930 book: The Mixed Courts of Egypt. He also was referred to as Prof. Mr. J. C. Th. Heyligers, or just J. C. Th. Heyligers. The above cabinet card of Julius Cornelis Theodorus Heyligers is archived in the Stadsarchief Delft in the Netherlands (SAD inv.nr. 80019), in the Image and Sound section with an estimated date of c1900. The image also is available on PICRYL at https://garystockbridge617.getarchive.net/amp/media/sad-invnr-80019-c46d87 and on Wikimedia at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SAD_inv.nr._80019.jpg. This cabinet card measures 16.5 cm high x 10.5 cm wide. Heyligers may be slightly younger in this photo than the previous one in this post that accompanied his biography as a faculty member at the Indische Instelling (he may have more hair in the above cabinet card than the portrait in the Onze Hoogleeraren: Portetten en Biografieën 1898). Note that Heyligers is still wearing the striped rosette in his left lapel. The above studio portrait of Julius Cornelis Theodorus Heyligers also is archived in the Stadsarchief Delft (SAD inv.nr. 90912). As noted, the image also is available on PICRYL and Wikimedia Commons. The matted photo measures 40 cm high x 29 cm wide. There is a possible date "04 or possibly "08 that is written to the right of the photographer's name on the lower right of the mat ("W. H. Jazerda"?). Heyligers continues to wears his rosette (striped?) in his left lapel. The two previous portraits of Heyligers probably date to his tenure at the Indische Instelling in Delft from 1893-1901. This is the only portrait I have found that almost certainly dates to his term on the Mixed Courts, other than his inclusion in the group portrait of the Cairo District Court noted above. Although the hat he wears in that 1909 group shot obscures the amount of his baldness, Heyligers' face in that group shot most closely resembles the above portrait. Heyligers wrote a full report of the incident that resulted in the dismissal of Haakman which was published posthumously (Une episode des Premiers Temps de la réforme judidiciareen Egypte. Pamphlet privately printed, Paris 1926). Edited November 26 by Rusty Greaves
Graf Posted November 30 Posted November 30 On 24/07/2024 at 09:41, Rusty Greaves said: 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. Very Nice
Rusty Greaves Posted December 5 Author Posted December 5 (edited) I have found photos that appear to represent either another possible example of what I have termed a “jewelry” version of the Mixed Courts badge insignia made by Wolf Horovitz, or higher resolution photos of the same badge shown at lower resolution in 2 other past auctions. The current example comes from a 21 July, 2024 auction (26: Osmanli ve Avrupa Eserler Müzayedesi [Ottoman and European Works Auction]) by the Ünal Auction House in Istanbul, Lot 34 (https://www.muzayedeapp.com/en/product/bronz-mineli-adalet-nisani-hidiv-19-yy-sultan-abdulaziz-han-donemi-imalat-damg-MTkwLTI1MTQwLTg2ODU5NjY=). The images on the Ünal auction listing are high-resolution and show aspects of the badge execution better than 2 previous Turkish auction listings of 2 different badges with low-resolution photos (the Hitit Antik 21 February, 2021 auction (5, Lot 126; and the 24 October, 2021 auction listing (Auction 20, Lot 16) by Arthill Museum Collection) and to the first example I found and illustrated here from a Bamfords Auctioneers and Valuers’ auction of 5 December, 2018, Lot 3620 (archived on the saleroom website with only the photo of the obverse: https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/bamfords/catalogue-id-bamfor10553/lot-546dbbb8-f7b1-4f6a-a2ba-a9a0009cb8b5). One of 2 images of the obverse of this very abbreviated execution in bronze of the Mixed Courts badge design from the Ünal Auction House offering of 21 July, 2024. This high-resolution image, and the 2 others from the Ünal listing, can be zoomed for additional details. The auction description identifies the material of this badge as bronze. However, it also suggests the piece is gilt in gold, this may be unlikely. The black enamel ornamenting the mantle margins, tassels, and a portion of the crown also is listed, but the white enamel in the Order of Medjidie element is not mentioned (this is a painted, not baked, form of enamel). There is some apparent loss of black enamel that can be seen in this photo and the next one below of the obverse. The outermost tassel on the viewer’s left is missing enamel in the lower chamber representing the neck or ruff, below the head of the tassel and above the skirt (the fringe). On the viewer’s right, the outermost tassel is missing enamel in part of the cord portion (above the body & skirt), the body, and the skirt. There also appears to be chipping of some of the enamel in the uppermost draping of the mantle below the crown and to either side of the star above the central inscribe tablet. The photo above shows well the chips in this enamel at the lower margins of the drapery, to both the right and left of the star. The next photo below of the obverse also shows these chips, but not as well as the negative conchoidal fractures visible in this image. The dimensions are given as 11.5 cm tall x 8.5 cm wide, as with the other examples this is the same size as the more elaborate and official forms of the badges as shown on this thread. The description claims this piece was made by Froment-Meurice. However, as seen on the reverse of this badge, on the Bamfords example, and on the Arthill example (all shown below) the name “HOROVITZ” is visible on the reverse above the 2 recessed rivet holes in the central portion (see the 3rd photo in this post). The description of the Bamfords example states that it is “probably silver gilt”. I first illustrated the Bamfords example in my post on this thread of 2 December, 2018. The first image shows the obverse and the 2nd shows the reverse with the “HOROVITZ” name. Also note that the most inferior portion of the mantle fringe on the Ünal badge does overlaps some of the rayed embellishment, suggesting that the mantle element may be loose or has slipped downward. Another high-resolution image of the obverse of this unusual piece from the Ünal Auction House listing for Lot 34. There are 2 apparent bubble anomalies in the black enamel that are useful in comparing this badge with the Bamfords piece. Two chambers on the viewer’s right margin of the mantle below the tassels (where embroidery designs are present detailed normal Mixed Courts badges) each show surface irregularities in the black enamel that are not seen on the Bamfords example. Note the hole visible under the corner of the folded mantle margin on the left side of the badge. This suggests the loss of at least one of the rivets holding the multiple components of embellishment, mantle, and central tablet with the inscription together. Compare the 1st photo in this post that appears to show the same hole showing the white surface on which the badge is resting. The lack of projection of the rayed embellishment at the inferior margin also is quite apparent in this photo. High-resolution photo of the reverse of this piece. The “HOROVITZ” name is partially visible in the superior portion of the central depression underneath the proximal portion of the tunic pin where the bifurcated proximal portion becomes a single pin. Although they cannot be distinguished clearly, it appears that the 3 Egyptian [silver] hallmarks are present on the inferior portion of the central depression above the tunic pin catch. As with the Bamfords example, the above image also appears to show the 3 Egyptian hallmarks (for silver) on the right side bifurcation of the tunic pin higher than where they join into the more distal portion of the pin (in the above photo, to the viewer’s right of where “…OROVITZ” appears underneath the tunic pin. Two very distinctive casting flaws lines that are probably pouring defects are readily apparent in this image on the left side of that central depression. Additionally, several pouring defects (misruns or cold shuts) also are apparent in the most inferior portion of the central depression, seen on both sides of the tunic pin catch. Other casting flaws can be seen on both the obverse and reverse of this piece, and the other examples I have illustrated here on this thread. It is unclear if all of the rivets are present in this example. The central most pair of rivets are either missing or recessed in what appear to be empty holes. The reverse of the Bamfords example also shows recessed holes. In the photo of the reverse of the Bamfords piece, at least 6 of the 7 holes may be filled with an alternate form of attachment, or they simply show the underside of the mantle element (see below). The Ünal Auction House example may be missing some rivets, and the mantle element may have slipped inferiorly so that very little of the rayed embellishment is visible beyond the inferior margin of the lowermost mantle fringe. Above is a moderate-resolution photo of the obverse of the Bamfords “mock-badge”, as I have occasionally referred to it for its schematic design execution and lack of any details seen on even the least elaborate versions of the Mixed Courts badge (probably those by Zivy Frères & Cie). This was the first example of this odd badge that I found online. As noted, the auction description identifies this as There are several similarities between this image and the Ünal Auction House example that suggest these may be the same pieces. However, there also are some glaring dissimilarities that challenge that possibility. The Bamfords piece appears to have the same areas of missing enamel as the Ünal example in the 2 tassels. The Bamfords and Ünal examples both show very little of the most inferior portion of the embellishment below the fringe margin of the mantle element. Both pieces show an anomaly appearing as a grey spot (a bubble?; or a high point in the cell holding the white enamel that shows through as a dark spot?) in the 10:00 position in the white enamel inside the wreath that holds the round suggestion of the Order of Medjidie element. However, there also appear to be differences in the staining, scratches or other surface damage, possible loss of enamel on the Bamfords central tablet inscription and some differences in the form of the calligraphy, and in the distinct casting flaws on the reverse of each badge. The Bamfords piece appears to be missing enamel in the “cordage” wrapping cell element around the mantle corner on the viewer’s left side, while the Ünal piece appears to have enamel in this cell. As noted above, the 2 bubble anomalies in the 2 chambers on the right margin of the mantle (embroidery on fully detailed official badges) do not appear to be visible in the Bamfords badge photo. The Bamfords central tablet inscription is missing enamel in the 2 diacritical marks between the 7th and 8th vertical alif strokes on the upper left quadrant. Enamel also is missing from 2 “bird” diacritical marks in the lower right and lower left quadrants of the tablet. The lower resolution of the Bamfords photo makes comparison of some of the apparently different forms of the diacritical marks on this tablet inconclusive. The staining of the Bamfords badge does not match what is shown in much higher resolution in the Ünal auction photos. This is especially apparent in the well-defined different lighter spots on the Ünal Auction House’s central tablet. There are at least 12 fine pits (casting flaws or damage?) somewhat clearly visible on the upper left half dome of the tablet of the Bamfords badge that are not present on the Ünal piece. Possibly similar pitting may be present on the Bamfords star that cannot be identified on the star of the Ünal badge. The right hand horn (from the viewer’s perspective) of the crescent surmounting the crown appear to be slightly bent downward and inward on the Bamfords badge but not on that of the Ünal crescent. There is a dent or casting flaw on the tall 7th ray to the viewer’s left of the tall central superior ray behind the crescent finial; on the crown (counting that as the 1st ray) that is not visible on the same ray of the Ünal piece. I cannot match staining or damage of the embellishment between the 2 examples (except possibly similar marks on the 2 longest rays in the cluster of 3 to the left of the lowermost extent of the enameled lowermost folds of the mantle, that could also be mold flaws). Above is a moderate-resolution photo of the reverse of the Bamfords piece (or at least from the auction listing of this badge), showing the placement of the “HOROVITZ” name, the 3 Egyptian silver hallmarks on the tunic pin and on the lower central depression above the tunic pin catch. Note the distinctive casting flaws (pits, misruns, and possibly cold shuts) on this piece that do not appear to match those seen on the Ünal Auction House example. Additionally, the staining and well-defined lighter areas are not seen on the Ünal piece. The rivet holes on the Ünal badge also do not match those on this Bamfords example. Above is a low-resolution image of another example of one of these odd cast pieces using the original Mixed Courts badge design. This example comes from a 24 October, 2021 auction listing (Auction 20, Lot 16) by the Turkish auctioneers Arthill Museum Collection, still archived on their website (https://www.arthill.com.tr/urun/4095822/hidiv-19-yuzyil-altin-vermeyli-bronz-mineli-adalet-nisani-19-yuzyil-sultan-abdu). This piece is identified as being made of bronze, measuring 11.5 cm tall x 8.5 cm wide. There may be some vermeil on this example, but I cannot determine which part may be gilt. This was the second example of this surprising workmanship by Wolf Horovitz, who also made much more-detailed Mixed Courts badges that were struck not cast. I illustrated the 6 photos included with the Arthill auction listing and described this badge in my post of 7 April, 2022. This example has no white enamel around the Order of Medjidie element, and lacks black enamel in some of the portions that the Bamfords and Ünal pieces have (in the upper portion of the mantle drapery including most of the bunched corners, the cords of all 4 tassels, the body, and skirt of each of the outermost right and left tassels, and all of the lateral fringe in the folds of the mantle). It is unclear if the enamel has been lost or was never applied to this piece. The poor resolution of this photo makes it difficult to determine whether there is black enamel in more portions of the crown than on the Bamfords or Ünal pieces. Note that the inferior portion of the rayed embellishment on the Arthill piece does project further from the lower margin of the mantle fringe, compared with the Bamfords, Ünal, and Hitit Antik badges. Low-resolution photo of the reverse of the Arthill example. The name “HOROVITZ” is in the same position as on the Bamfords and Ünal examples. The detail is not good enough to confirm the presence of the 3 Egyptian silver hallmarks on the tunic pin or the inferior portion of the recessed central portion of the badge. However, the image appears to show the 1st and possibly the 2nd silver hallmarks visible just to the viewer’s left of the distal portion of the tunic pin. Above is a moderate-resolution close-up of the “HOROVITZ” name on the reverse of the Arthill badge. Note the many casting flaws evident in this image. Above is a very low-resolution illustration that I came across of this same form of abbreviated design came 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). The single photo with this listing is low-resolution, making comparison with the Bamfords example difficult. There was no image of the reverse in the Hitit Antik auction listing. The auction listing identifies the material as bronze and its dimensions as 11 cm tall x 9 cm wide. I posted the single image from this auction listing and discussed this example in my post of 18 July, 2024 on this thread. This appears to be the same badge as that listed on the Ünal Auction House in Istanbul auction offering of 21 July, 2024, Lot 34, shown in the first 3 images in this post. When zoomed, this badge photo does seem to shows the 2 chipped areas of black enamel on the inferior draping margin of the mantle on each side of the star. The tassel elements appear to be missing the same portions of black enamel as the Ünal example. The grayish dot at the 10:00 position in the white enamel of the Order of Medjidie element also matches that on the Ünal and Bamfords pieces. The small amount of the inferior portion of the rayed embellishment below the lower mantle fringe also resembles the Ünal and Bamfords badges. Although hampered by the low-resolution of the above image, the staining and some possible damage or casting flaws on the rayed embellishment show a strong similarity to those that can be compared on the Ünal piece (but not to the Bamfords badge pictures from the 2018 auction). I noted in my 18 July, 2024 post about this piece that I was unable to match the staining of the central tablet on this badge with that on the Bamfords badge, despite my suspicion that the grey dot in the white enamel around the Order of Medjidie element indicated a high probability these are the same badges. I also cannot match the areas of lighter and darker staining on the central inscribed tablet of the Hitit Antik badge with those shown on the Ünal tablet. Again I am confounded by some of the staining/tarnish differences. On many Mixed Courts badges, distinctive staining has been an important means of identifying the same badge's journeys through different auction houses. The high-resolution photo of the Ünal badge show very distinct areas of discoloration, but these do not map out in the same areas as this Hitit Antik. Other than repairs, chemical cleaning, or replacement of the missing enamel on the Bamfords central tablet calligraphy between 2018 and 2024, I cannot resolve the lack of similarity in the forms of the central tablets between the Ünal, Bamfords, and Hitit Antik pieces that seem to show many other similarities of their obverse faces. Another glaring anomaly is that the photo of the reverse of the Bamfords badge is quite different from the photo of the reverse of the Ünal example. If the Bamford’s photo of the reverse is actually of that piece, I do not see how the different casting flaws could be so different while many aspects of the obverse are similar. Potentially different rivet holes by themselves might represent attempts to stabilize a loose badge between 2018 and 2024. These abbreviated badges are uncommon enough that finding an unassociated image of the reverse of such a Horovitz badge in the Bamfords auction listing would not necessarily have been simple to obtain. My working idea is that the Bamfords, Ünal, and Hitit Antik badges may all be the same piece, with some maintenance effects that make the central tablets appear dissimilar in each of the photos of the obverse of these badges. The Arthill Horovitz badge is clearly a second example. If the reverse images of the Bamfords and Ünal badges are associated with the illustrated obverse photos in these auction offerings, then there is a strong probability that they represent 2 different badges. The current auction examples indicate that at least 2, and possibly 3, different examples of this abbreviated Horovitz design have come to auction over the last 6 years. The more interesting but opaque issue is why Horovitz made these badges that are so unlike his (and others’) clearly official Mixed Courts badges. Are they a form of brooch jewelry (for judges or other court officials’ wives?) or some other kind of semi-or unofficial insignia? Only Horovitz is currently identified as a maker of these odd pieces. Edited December 5 by Rusty Greaves
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