Pretty Blue Enamel: Bavarian Military Merit Orders

[Rick Research]

In my opinion, there is no finer type than an early WWI Order made by Jacob Leser:

(Scan restored 021204: "Lautenschlager MVOX cu")

This bar belonged to Oberleutnant dR Friedrich Lautenschlager. His MVO4X was awarded 1 August 1915--

(Scan restored 021204: "Lautenschlager Bav 3medbar obv")

Leser pieces have wonderful translucent blue enamel and a large openwork crown on the obverse center disk. This is an early war device in real gold, as is the small Bavarian lion on the reverse disk. These Orders are maker marked "950" and "J.L." on either side of the swords nut on the reverse of the suspension scroll, and "900" on the lower edge of the reverse right (as viewed) sword blade.

Contrast the above with a late war Leser piece with silver gilt centre devices, this being part of a long bar belonging to a Wehrmacht retread Oberst (E):

(Scan restored 021204: "Bibra MVOX SA3aX bar cu WW1 decs")

(The Saxon Albert Order-Knight 1st Class with Swords is marked "S" on the edge of the lower arm for "Scharffenburg.")

[Rick Research]

Here's one that Bill M should like: a Military Merit Order 4th Class with Crown and Swords, late war type as made by Gebrüder Hemmerle--

(obv and rev scans restored 021204)

Hemmerle pieces have a much darker blue, virtually opaque blue enamel. Note there characteristic extra wide "rubbing" edge on the reverse lower arm. Marked on the inner right edge there as viewed "G.H. 950," and also marked on the reverse right sword blade tip as viewed "G.H. 900."

[Rick Research]

Weiss & Co. are my least favorite maker. The quality of their work was much cruder--in fact, I am relatively certain that their Orders were CAST rather than struck! The small obverse cypher crowns were solid, the flames between the arms extra long and "pebbled" with little dots. The beveling on the edges of their arms always seems to show file marks. Not anywhere near as nice as the other makers!

Here is a VERY ODD MVO4X indeed!--

(scan restored 021204; "Gernand all silver MVO4X 4medbar obv")

note that this Order is entirely finished in frosted silver, with no gilt whatsoever--

(scan restored 021204: "Gernand all silver MVO4X obv")

But wait! There is MORE weirdness! Check out the reverse--

(scan restored 021204: "Gernand all silver MVO4X rev")

How about THAT! If this was a coin, it would be called a "mule!" The reverse center is not the two piece enamelled "hubcap" it should be, but solid frosted silver like the reverse of a Military Merit Cross 2nd Class. But this is no "make do" repair using an incorrect part--this is a REAL silver disk, frosted like the other parts!

It is marked "W.Co." (with a superscript small o) and "950" on either side of the swords nut on the reverse suspension scroll, and "900: on the usual sword tip spot. Note that the sword blades were polished for contrast.

Two others of this bizarre type are known.

And how do we know it was an actual WWI period award and not some 1930s non-standard "swank" type? Because this medal bar was kept in the shipping box this Order was sent in--

(scan rstored 021204: "Gernand 4medbar Weiss box")

It is addressed to Doctor Gernand, ROYAL District Physician, Alzenau, with royal Bavarian stamps (unfortunately the date stamps are illegible) and in the box from Heinrich Weiss, Aschaffenburg.

The bar indicates that although a qualified M.D., Dr. Gernand had no pre-war military service, called up as a Warrant Officer physician (Feld-Hilfs-Arzt) to receive the rare Military Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords before obtaining a Reserve or Landwehr commission as Assistenarzt--and this ?replacement MVO4X.

[François SAEZ]

I don't collect Imperial items, but I have to recognize two things:
- Esthetically they are superb
- For most of your items, you can track them
No, no, honestly it is nice, not enough to convert me, but very nice
François

[Rick Research]

Sometimes, of course, we can connect "collecting fields"--

This is another early war Leser (of course) with some of that Third Reich stuff before it got all zinky and icky

[Richard]

Rick, how do store and/or display your collection? You have got a boatload of medals and I was wondering if you have come up with some convenient way to store them where they are easily accessible for examination.
Richard V

[Rick Research]

Fellow Rick! Nope-- they're all wrapped up in archival tissue paper (anything else will chemically ruin the contents over time--I've seen it happen, alas!) and jammed in a bank vault. Very frustrating for one who would like to dance through his treasure heaps like Scrooge McDuck!

I only have one glass display case for whatever is newest (not much!!!) or rotating home display!

When Stogie-Rick V or anybody else comes by to play Show N Tell, I have to have a day's notice, go get the desired items, and then kind of do a reverse process of how ancient Egyptians prepared mummies!

[Rick Research]

Brought up from out of the Back Pages (such beauty should not languish forgotten!) in hopes of reviving this topic with more scans.

Of all the "affordable" Imperial Orders, this is my favorite.

[JensF.]

I'll post a new and better scan of my medal-bar with this bavarian beauty soon.

[Bill M]

--Beautiful! Did I miss these the first time around? No it's probably the dementia, it runs in the family. At 35, I am the youngest to get it so far.
--Actually, I do remember that crack by Francois - so I can't be THAT bad... It's all coming back to me, yep the pretty blue enamel cavortin' with those ugly Nazi doo-dads. Ok,
--That Military Merit Order 4th Class with Crown and Swords still eludes me. It's actually starting to hurt. I saw one on an Austrian medalbar recently, but the price of it would have hurt me worse in a different manner.
Thanks for bringing this one back up Rick! Opening up old wounds, making me obsess........damned New Englander....

[Klaus O.]

Frackspange, Bayern 6 medals

Rick,

I have already shown this to you once, but I repost it... I hope for the joy of all Imperial collectors.

Ciao,

Claudio

[Rich G]

Stop it! stop it! STOP IT!

I can resist.... I can res....


I <B>can't</B> resist...any ...longer... must have nice ... imperial ... medal ..bar...ekkkkk!



I'm drooling so much I'm risking electrocution here...

Rich

[Klaus O.]

Bayern 5 medals' bar

Another bar from my modest collection...

Enjoy!

Ciao,

Claudio

[JensF.]

Claudio, the Frackspange has got a very interesting and rare combination. EKII AFTER the Long Service Decoration. Hessen Kriegsehrenzeichen and the FA-cross from Oldenburg. Who the hell was this guy? A bavarian lend-lease beamter in a Hessen Regiment in Oldenburg... Who knows...

[Klaus O.]

Jens,

I know that the combination is quite strange. Rick had told me the same about this bar. I can only tell you that all parts of the bar are original and that the ribbons have passed the Black Light Test. The ribbon on the Luitpold-Medaille is not correct; the taylor who put the bar together used the less common ribbon of the Turkish Liakat medal. It's strange, but I do believe that sometimes such errors could occur. It could also depend on what this taylor had on stock at that moment in his shop...

Bavaria, Prussia, Hessen and Oldenburg... yeah, I know strange, but to me still a very nice looking bar.

Here is the pic of the reverse.

ciao,

Claudio