Hoch und Deutschmeister

[Chris Boonzaier]

Found these in a small junk shop in cape town...any comments ?

[Stijn David]

hoch und DEutschmeister

Hello Chris,


Is it possible to show us the reverse ? , that wil give more insight in the attachement of the non wearable piece => my first guess is that it is a so called " Kappenabzeichen " , im not sure however and have to search in my book archives.


Greetings,

[Chris Boonzaier]

Here you go,
it was a nice find indeed. it seems a bit heavy for a Kappen abz.

[Glenn2438]

Chris,

it is a so-called Kappenabzeichen for the Austrian Imperial and Royal Infantry-Regiment Number 4 "Hoch -und Deutschmeister". Although it is a rather large badge, photgraphs do show this particular badge in wear by members of this regiment. 1696 was the formation date of this very famous regiment from Vienna.

Glenn

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi Glenn,
can you post a photo of it in wear?
can anyone give a guestimate as to what it is worth ?
thanks
Chris

[Glenn2438]

Chris,

here is a photo courtesy of my friend Jög C. Steiner. It is not terribly clear but one can make out the cross. This gentleman is a Zugsführer in IR.4



Glenn

[Rick Research]

Rozet und Fischmeister, maker of this badge, were also official Court Jewellers and made, in my opinion, Orders much superior to the oohed and ahhed over Rothe firm's products.

The bravery medal is a "slug" copy-- is it cast? Note the absence of the die cutter's name under his bust-- issue pieces said "Tautenhayn" in tiny capital letters.

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi Rick,
the bravery medal is indeed terrible quality when you compare it to the cap badge, its out of die struck zink.
It is however 100% period. I assume they are so comman that they are not faked in any great way.

[Eric Stahlhut]

WoW!

I've never seen a cap badge like this one before! Any ideas what this would be worth?

[VerKuilen Ager]

What Chris has is quite a bit more significant than a kappenabzeichen. This was the Regiments-Ehrenzeichen des K.u.K. Hoch- und Deutschmeister-Infanterieregiments Nr. 4 . This was breast badge and classed with a series of items associated with the "Hoher Deutscher Ritterorden". The pieces for the Regiment included a 200 year jubilee medal (1896), a gedenkmedaille (1906), and Goldened Verdienstkreuz (don't know the date on that one). The Regiments-Ehrenzeichen dates to 1916 and was catalogued by Prochazka as #672 in his Osterreichisches Ordenshandbuch (Munich: Klenau, 1974).

As noted above, this was worn on the breast, so I think we have a similar, but coincidental, use of the unit emblem in the portrait photo.

[Chris Boonzaier]

Super, that made my day :-))

I just wonder what it was awarded for ......