How do you display?

[Hank C.]

I've been wondering....we see a lot of people here who display their collections by type. For example, a big case of EK 2's, then the EK 1's, then the Panzer badges, etc. However, I'm sure a good number of collections come from purchasing award GROUPS. An EK 1, an EK 2, the wound badge, maybe a Sturmabzeichen and Krimschild. But then, if you group all your EK 2's together, you've lost the original integrity of the grouping.
So my question - do most people keep track of what grouping each medal came from, or do you keep what you like and re-sell the rest? I'm trying to figure out how to display my collection, as it slowly grows. I like the look of a bunch of EK's (or whatever) together, but then I feel like something is missing...
Any opinions greatly appreciated!

Hank

[Biro]

If it's a grouping with provenance, I would naturally keep it together, and display it as such.

Without that provenance, it is (in the nicest possible way) merely a spurious assortment of awards/badges and photo's, and in that instance, I always prefer to see collections displayed by TYPE.

Recreating the awards from an unrelated photograph can indeed look impressive, but it's not REALLY a grouping, is it.......

It's horses for courses though - my own collection interest is the Iron Cross from all periods, so for me, it was easy........

[landsknechte]

If I actually had any groups, I'd display those together... (Well, I do have one group, a ribbon bar and a matching lapel miniature - but that doesn't make for much of a display.) Barring that, I lean towards period or subject oriented groupings, more than groupings of like items.

--Chris

[Hank C.]

If it's a grouping with provenance, I would naturally keep it together, and display it as such.

.......
It's horses for courses though - my own collection interest is the Iron Cross from all periods, so for me, it was easy........

Thanks Biro. That's what makes me wonder - I see quite a few people with display cases full of Iron Crosses (or whatever) and I think that some of those had to have come from groupings of some size. Sort of like - but not as bad as - people who rip apart photo albums, keep what they want, then pass the rest along.

Any other opinions?

Hank