Highlights

Buy treasures for a reduced Buyer‘s Premium

 
7788 |

Important Iron Cross 1st Class 1813 grouping - Velvet Cross

Important Iron Cross 1st Class 1813 grouping - Velvet Cross

Important Iron Cross 1st Class 1813 grouping - Velvet Cross

ITEM K-7788
N/A
RETURNED TO CONSIGNOR
PRICE
-

Own a similar product you want to sell? We are here for you at +49 8541 9053699

DESCRIPTion, DETaILS & Photos
SAVE FOR LATER
Note: There is no "BUY NOW" option available after the auction has ended.
PERIOD until 1918
COUNTRY Imperial Germany
MATERIAL silver
DIMENSIONS 42.4 x 41.1
OEK 1898
MAKER
WEIGHT 7.3 g
LOT K-7788
EAN 2000000625515
LOT K-7788
PERIOD until 1918
COUNTRY Imperial Germany
EAN 2000000625515
MATERIAL silver
DIMENSIONS 42.4 x 41.1
OEK 1898
MAKER
WEIGHT 7.3 g
PERIOD until 1918
COUNTRY Imperial Germany
LOT K-7788
MATERIAL silver
DIMENSIONS 42.4 x 41.1
EAN 2000000625515
OEK 1898
MAKER
WEIGHT 7.3 g
Imperial Germany
Important Iron Cross 1st Class 1813 grouping - Velvet Cross


Description

King Friedrich Wilhelm III. of Prussia founded the Iron Cross on March 10, 1813, in three classes, the Grand Cross, the 1st and 2nd class. The Grand Cross and the 2nd class were made from cast and blackened iron in a silver frame each suspended from a black ribbon with white stripes. The 1st class was initially to be made from the black and white ribbon only. Only on June 16, 1813, the idea to create a 1st class equal in material to the other two classes came about.

The iron core of the initial batch cracked quite easily as they did not have the silver plate to support the fragile cast iron core. The construction of those was done like the 2nd class, by holding the iron core in place with another open frame plate. Recipients must have used textiles to repair those crosses due to that fact, but also as the supply of the Iron Cross 1st class was very slow.

Few of those crosses are known. Two of those are part of the Zeughaus collection in Berlin, Germany, and are recorded as samples ordered by the Orders Commission on August 15, 1813. One has the textile material incorporated within an open frame with one loop per cross arm, the other shows a needle holding the velvet and cardboard in place with 2 loops per cross arm. An additional cross stemming from the Zeughaus collection and acquired by Max Aurich completes the picture. This cross pictured in Frank Wernitz's book on "The Iron Cross" on page 57 is variant to the above mentioned and was privately sourced due to the lack of crosses in 1813-15. This cross depicts a hybrid between all three known examples.

Here a mint example of a velvet cross. The Cross is made of a silver frame holding a cardboard backed piece of black velvet in place. The cross can be sewn to a uniform via 4 silver loops that are afixed to the reverse of each of the cross arms.

This cross is part of a grouping that came straight from from a family estate in northern Germany.

Besides this sensational conditioned cross few other pieces will be offered along with it:

b) Iron Cross 1st Class, 1914, in case of issue. Silver frame with iron core by Sy & Wagner with the appropriate mark “S – W” on its needle. Typical case with crimson velvet inlay from WWI in appropriate condition.

c) Iron Cross 1st Class, 1914, slightly vaulted, silvered frame with iron core in almost mint condition. 1939 re-issue with makers mark L/11 for Wilhelm Deumer.

d) Iron Cross 2nd Class, 1914, Silver frame with iron core and tailored ribbon for a medal bar.

e) so called Hindenburg Cross with makers mark “P.&C.L.”

f) Prussia, House Order of Hohenzollern, Knight’s Cross with Swords in gilded silver and enamel. Marked “938 Godet” for silver content and maker. Minor surface chip at 6 o’clock in the avers center just below the eagle.

g) Bavaria, Military Merit Order 4th Class with swords in silver, gold, and enamel. Makers and content mark “G.H. 950” for the Brothers Hemmerle in Munich on swords and Cross.

h) Lippe, War Merit Cross 1st Class, gilded bronze, in case of issue

i) Lippe, War Merit Cross 2nd Class, gilded bronze

j) Oldenburg, Friedrich August Cross 1st Class in black painted iron.

k) German Reich, Wound Badge in silver, steel with matt silver finish.

l) Lippe, Boutonniere of the 1st Class of the House Order in gold and enamel. Lippe-Detmold awarded a total of 62 from October 25, 1869, to September 24, 1889. 10 were awarded in unison with Schaumburg-Lippe. An estimate for the awards afterwards can not be given, but the files of Lippe show a list of 32 crosses awarded by Lippe-Detmold in 1872 and 42 by Schaumburg-Lippe.

m) Austria, Military Merit Cross 3rd Class with War Decoration in case of issue by Rothe in Vienna. Showing the appropriate Austrian markings on the ring loop.

n) Austria, Franz Josef Cross with Crown. In silver and enamel on trifold ribbon.

o) Austria, Red Cross Medal 3rd class in silver and enamel, with original trifold ribbon.

p) Remnants of a medal bar for positions d), g), i), e), possible one missing and m).

q) patch for the emperor’s yacht club

r) an enameled coat of arms pin.

s) a case of issue for a Prussian Red Eagle Order 4th class

t) Two miniature chains in contemporary case by Joh. Fried. Bock in Berlin. First chain consists of the Prussian Iron Cross 2nd Class, 1870, with oak leaf cluster, Red Eagle Order 4th Class, 1870/71 Commemorative Medal for Combatant with 5 combat bars and centennial medal, followed by Lippe, House Order 2nd Class with swords and Romania, Order of the Crown of Romania, Officer Cross.

The Lippe House Order 2nd class with swords was only awarded 5 times from April 20, 1871, to Jun 8, 1871. Furthermore 5 crosses with swords were awarded by Lippe until December 1972 and 6 by Schaumburg-Lippe totaling 16.

The second chain consists of the Prussian St. John Order, Knight’s of Justice, Iron Cross 2nd class, 1914, House Order of Hohenzollern, Knight’s Cross with Swords, Bavaria, Military Merit Order 4th Class with Swords, Lippe, War Merit Cross 2nd Class, Hindenburg Cross, Wound Badge in Silver and Austria, Military Merit Cross.

u) a blue enameled pin with the north Frisian coat of arms.

v) Various pins and ribbons through time.

A historical group with some major highlights. Besides the velvet version of the Iron Cross 1813, the Lippe House Order with swords completes this grouping. Some research should unveil the name of this family.


Condition
1
Historical information
Award period
1815 -
OEK
1898
Institution date
Instituted by

König Friedrich Wilhelm III. von Preußen stiftete das Eiserne Kreuz am 17. März 1813 während der Napoleonischen Kriege als militärische Auszeichnung. Das Eiserne Kreuz wurde auch während des Deutsch-Französischen Krieges (1870), des Ersten Weltkriegs (1914) und des Zweiten Weltkriegs (1939) verliehen.

Das Eiserne Kreuz war in der Regel nur eine militärische Auszeichnung, wurde aber in einigen Fällen an Zivilisten für die Ausübung militärischer Funktionen verliehen.

0de05679-04e1-11ec-8958-305a3a782327
Sell collectables in our shop! Please here for more details.