Best Looking Imperial Award

[Biro]

I noticed a thread in the 3 Riech section about the 'best looking award' of WW2 and thought it might be interesting to start an Imperial one.

The combattant PLM is a great looker, as is the arts and sciences version, some of the enamel awards from the various states will be tough to beat.

Feel free to post what you consider to be the best looking imperial award... but for sheer rugged good looks and with an undeniable 'cool' factor, you'll have to go a long way to convince me that the Brabanter Kreuz is not THE best looking award ever.

Marshall

Brabanter Kreuz.. owner unknown

[regular122]

Marshall,

My vote goes to an Austrian award. OK, maybe not Imperial in the sense you meant but the Order of the Golden Fleece is simply fantastic for the top bravery and honor award of the age. The symbolism of flames, bombs and the rescue of innocents is fabulous. Sure, there are nice peacocks and horses and some truly incredible glass and enamel works of art, but they were often for princes only. This one could wind up in the hands of a fighter as well. Steve

[mbberlin]

These are sissy awards!

The best design has still the one and only award of the awards. The Prussian Iron Cross.

[paddywhack]

I noticed a thread in the 3 Riech section about the 'best looking award' of WW2 and thought it might be interesting to start an Imperial one.

The combattant PLM is a great looker, as is the arts and sciences version, some of the enamel awards from the various states will be tough to beat.

Feel free to post what you consider to be the best looking imperial award... but for sheer rugged good looks and with an undeniable 'cool' factor, you'll have to go a long way to convince me that the Brabanter Kreuz is not THE best looking award ever.

Marshall

Brabanter Kreuz.. owner unknown

tell us more about this award!! is it rare!!!??(i bet you anything it is!!)

but mine would be the The Bavarian Bravery Medal!!why well i have one!! and its for stuff like the PLM but very understated and is just so nicely done!!

[paddywhack]

and the back! now THIS is a lion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[gregM]

The house order of Henry the Lion.
I lifted this picture from Wild Card (hope he donsn't mind)

[paddywhack]

The house order of Henry the Lion.
I lifted this picture from Wild Card (hope he donsn't mind)

wow thats an amazing award!!the work that would have had to gone into it is amazing!!i can sense this being a very very interesting thread!!!

[Wild Card]

The house order of Henry the Lion.
I lifted this picture from Wild Card (hope he donsn't mind)

No problem GregM. I was considering submitting that piece for nomination but....

Biro, this is a terrific idea for a thread and I like the logic that you used in your selection; I can’t think of a better one. With that in mind and using the same approach, I would like to nominate the Reuß 1914 War Merit Cross for second place.

[don]

Simple and not rare.But looks nice.Price not bad
don

[saschaw]

Might get a very nice thread but I have to add the Brabant cross is not an Imperial award as it predates 1871 and is still not from before 1804/06 when the Holy Roman Emperor abdicted. Still, the Brabanter Kreuz is one of the best looking German awards - unfortunally almost as rar as hen's teath and not often seen.

My personal favourite is Baden's order of the Zähringer Lion, but there are many, many other very well designed awards. Baden's Military Karl Friedrich merit order looks actually better...

[David Müldner]

Hi

I have to correct you on this: It is not the brabanter kreuz. It's actually the Deutscher Kreuz-style version of the kurhessian order of the iron helmet. What do you know about its history? Currently, I amworking on an article on this order, it was the kurhessianversion of the prussian iron cross for the befreiungskriege

[Biro]

Thanks for the correction David - you are of course correct - I have mixed my Brabanter Kreuz & Deutscher Kreuz's up!

Here are both - and it's just possible that the Deutscher Kreuz actually shades it for style and design - and of course, cool factor.

Either way, these remain my alltime favourites.

Marshall

[Wild Card]

... the Deutscher Kreuz actually shades it for style and design - and of course, cool factor.

Either way, these remain my alltime favourites.

Marshall