A friend's Pour le Mérite

[bratwurstdimsum]

I went and saw my mate Ray the other day, hoping to impress him with my story of a recently acquired early 1957 RK, when he told me he had a Pour le Mérite. Once I picked myself up off the floor he said that it was bequeathed on to him by his grandfather (I think) so he was indeed a lucky man.

Well I paid a visit to him again yesterday upon the promise that he'd bring it in, I wasn't disappointed!

I'd like to invite feedback on history or manufacture of this piece as he's told me there has been some discussion on the maker...either meyerbauer or another maker whom I can't remember now

[bratwurstdimsum]

2

Maker mark

[bratwurstdimsum]

3

[epsomgreen]

Hello:

I saw one just like it at the MAX in Charlotte. It was also examined by Andreas Ising and Stephen Previtera (the consensus was a Meybauer marked PLM in the style of Godet). We believe it was intended for funeral display, either on a sash or an Ordenkissen.

The seller was asking $1,100.00 USD.

Regards,

Charles

[Daniel Murphy]

Yes, I saw that one as well, the price seemed reasonable considering. Both are of very good quality (for a one sided). Due to the marking, I would say not post ww2. Can anyone document whether Meybauer used this mark post WW2?
Dan Murphy

[bratwurstdimsum]

That's very interesting Charles, being a complete dunce at PLMs is that because of its size or because it's one-sided?

Hello:

I saw one just like it at the MAX in Charlotte. It was also examined by Andreas Ising and Stephen Previtera (the consensus was a Meybauer marked PLM in the style of Godet). We believe it was intended for funeral display, either on a sash or an Ordenkissen.

The seller was asking $1,100.00 USD.

Regards,

Charles

[Chris Wainwrigh]

That's very interesting Charles, being a complete dunce at PLMs is that because of its size or because it's one-sided?

Because it's one sided

[epsomgreen]

Because it's one sided

Righto!

Charles

[bratwurstdimsum]

Thanks guys!

[WBallok]

These were indeed display copies intended for various purposes, including funeral cushions and rememberance frames but at least one PLMT wore a one-sided cross like this at reunions in the 1970s. This piece seems to be from the 1920s or early 1930s. It is a nice item, perhaps 'liberated' by your friend's grandfather from a house in Germany in WW2.

Bill Ballok