Medals identification please

[Robert Noss]

I got 28 photographs and postcard of a famous actor (at his time).

His name was Ernst von Possart. Born in Berlin 1841. Died also in Berlin (no date known to me).

I have found information about his actor's career in the internet, he played all the dramatic roles like Mephisto, Shylock, Cäsar and so on, but I could not find what decorations he was awarded.

So I post the photos here to get some more info on his awards.





A postcard in his role as Mephisto:



And another postcard:



Detail of his picture in the middle:



Quite interesting photos, but nothing for me to keep. (I have too much photos now)

Thanks in advance for your help
Robert

[Fred Borgmann]

Actor's awards

I got 28 photographs and postcard of a famous actor (at his time).

His name was Ernst von Possart. Born in Berlin 1841. Died also in Berlin (no date known to me).

I have found information about his actor's career in the internet, he played all the dramatic roles like Mephisto, Shylock, Cäsar and so on, but I could not find what decorations he was awarded.

So I post the photos here to get some more info on his awards.





A postcard in his role as Mephisto:



And another postcard:



Detail of his picture in the middle:



Quite interesting photos, but nothing for me to keep. (I have too much photos now)

Thanks in advance for your help
Robert

I would bet this guy was self decorated. Too many high orders from too many nations poorly worn and yet no civilian PLM. Guess he didn't dare that while living in Berlin.

[Gerd Becker]

Sent you an Pm, Robert.

[Rick Research]

Oy oy oy! Für Mephisto wasfür Schmuckerei!!! Ai yi yi!

Commanders grade neck orders from his chin down:

1) Bavarian Crown Order (making him "Ritter von" unless he was born "von" already);
2) Württemberg Friedrich Order;
3) Saxon Albert Order-Commander 1st Class (star on left in photo);
4) something under the sash that only the tips of cross arms show;
5) Greek Order of the Redeemer-Commander 1st (star in 3rd row on left in photo);
6) Dannish Order of the Dannebrog-Commander 1st ("star" is large cross in right in photo);
7) beside that is Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach Order of the White Falcon;
8) Austro-Hungarian Franz Joseph Order,
9) Saxe Ernestine House Order-Commander 1st (star in thrid row touching sash-- from Saxe-Altenburg, Saxe-Coburg, or Saxe-Meiningen

I can't make out the other things that only show partially.

My guy below was only a writer of "Gebirgsromanen" !!!!

[Rick Research]

Aha. He was still alive in 1908, per his entry in the Deutscher Ordens-Almanach:

Professor Geheimer Rat Hoftheater Intendant a.D. Ernst Ritter von Possart, born Berlin 11 May 1841, Ehrenmitglied d. Hofschausp. München, Ehrenmitglied d. Hoftheater z. meiningen und Gera, sowie d. Urania-Theater in Berlin etc etc etc.

Awards other than those already listed above:

Anhalt Albert the Bear-Commander 1st;
Anhalt Medal for Arts and Sciences;
Bavarian Order of Saint Michael-Commander;
Bavarian Ludwig Medal for Arts and Sciences;
Bavarian Merit Cross for 1870-71;
Baden Order of the Zähringen Lion-Commander;
Hessian Order of Philipp the Generous-Comamnder;
Mecklenburg-Schwerin Griffin Order-Officer (pinback);
Mecklenburg-Schwerin Gold Medal for Arts and Sciences on the Blue Ribbon of the Commanders Cross of the Order of the Wend Crown (whew!!! and the ABBREVIATION for that in German is:

"McklSchwgMfW&KablBdedKomtKrzdWKr" )

Saxe-Meiningen Cross for Arts and Sciences 1st Clas;
Oldenburg Medal for Arts and Sciences;
Oldenburg Large Gold Medal for Merit in the Arts 1st Class;
Reuss (younger line) Honor Cross 2nd Class;
Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach Medal for Science and Arts 1st Class;
one of the hyphenated Thuringian Saxon duchies' Merit Cross 1st Class;
Commander's Star to the Württemberg Friedrich Order (may be in the photos but I got lost in all that bullion!);
Württemberg Gold Medal for Arts and Sciences on ribbon of the Crown Order;
and

puff puff wheeze wheeze

Spanish Order of Carlos III - Commander


by my estimation, that is more "tonnage" to wear than a fully loaded combat infantryman's gear!

[Robert Noss]

Thank You Rick. I was quite sure that he was awarded all these decorations for real and not "decorating himself" as Fred presumed. In that time at the end of the 19th century a famous and well-known person like him, probably admired by thousands of people - a star as we would call it today, could not run around with medals and awards that he wasn't really awarded.
He started his career in Berlin, went to Dresden, then to Switzerland, then to Munich where he initiated the building of the Prinzregenten - theatre (still standing and operating today). He also held a lot of titles like Königlicher Hofintendant in Bavaria, so he probably was in good contact with all the royalties of that time.

At that time famous stars from the "show-biz" were decorated with medals. Nowadays they get millions of dollars.

Thanks again for the input.
Kind regards
Robert

[Fred Borgmann]

Thank You Rick. I was quite sure that he was awarded all these decorations for real and not "decorating himself" as Fred presumed. In that time at the end of the 19th century a famous and well-known person like him, probably admired by thousands of people - a star as we would call it today, could not run around with medals and awards that he wasn't really awarded.
He started his career in Berlin, went to Dresden, then to Switzerland, then to Munich where he initiated the building of the Prinzregenten - theatre (still standing and operating today). He also held a lot of titles like Königlicher Hofintendant in Bavaria, so he probably was in good contact with all the royalties of that time.

At that time famous stars from the "show-biz" were decorated with medals. Nowadays they get millions of dollars.

Thanks again for the input.
Kind regards
Robert

WOW!! Do I stand corrected. Thanks for the education, Fred

[Daniel Krause]

Thats quite impressive! Never seen such a high decorated artist!

But he wears some stars on the wrong side. maybe did not read the "manual" properly.

Best regards

Daniel