Orden vom Zähringer Löwen, RK 1. Kl. mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern

[Klaus O.]

Dear Imperialoids,

Herewith I am posting two images of my newly purchased above-mentioned cross. The weight including ribbon and Eichenlaub is of 24.9 g. The measurements of the cross itself are: height : 38.28mm and width : 38.22.

Sorry for the lousy pictures, but without natural light and using a flash, pictures come out really bad.

I need to know your opinion about the construction material. I think it is hollow constructed since it doesn't weight so much. It is possible from the pictures of which materials this cross is made of? It was described as some parts are gold... what do you think?

[Klaus O.]

Rückseite / reverse:

[stogieman]

Well, based on the photos

It sure looks like an original order, swords and oakleaves... and ALL in Gold! Take a very close look at the cross, the really good ones will be made of a combination of white, yellow and rose (or pink) gold!

[Klaus O.]

Thanks Rick for your nice words. Accordingly to Nimmergut only 138 OZL 1. Kl. mit Eichenlaub u. Schwertern were awarded during WWI. In O'Connor's Volume # VI he gives following numbers which have been researched by Roth and Volle:

the first states that 139 were awarded
the second states that 138 were awarded.

Anyhow, quite scarce, if I might say that... scarcer than a RK des Eisernes Kreuz (1939) mit Eichenlaub!

Ciao,

Claudio

It sure looks like an original order, swords and oakleaves... and ALL in Gold! Take a very close look at the cross, the really good ones will be made of a combination of white, yellow and rose (or pink) gold!

[Brian S]

So the one on Tom's bar shown on Dave Danner's site probably is not gold? Those Baden folks had some nice enamel.

[Klaus O.]

Brian,

The one shown on Dave's website was taken from Hermann Historica's 45th auction held in october 2003. Here is a picture and description of it:

Los-Nr. 3253: Ritterkreuz 1. Klasse mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern, 1815-1918. Silber, vergoldet, das Kreuz mit grünem Glasfluss besetzt, emailliertes Medaillon.

As you correctly deducted it is not of pure gold... just silver gilted.

Am I correct to assume that the only way to distinguish a 1st class from a 2nd is not weight, size of the cross but the gold color on the reverse of the cross?

Ciao,

Claudio



[QUOTE=Brian S]So the one on Tom's bar shown on Dave Danner's site probably is not gold? Those Baden folks had some nice enamel.[/QOTE]

[stogieman]

Actually....

weight and appearance, with weight the fool-proof way. It is extremely rare to have a gold piece, most were returned to the issuing chancellry (sp?). It is even rarer to have them hallmarked. Despite the raging debate over "crowns and moons" what you don't hear is that SAME law also specified requirements and marks for GOLD pieces. I have had the priviledge of owning a number of gold orders over the years and what always strikes me is that the weight is so noticeably different. Most gold pieces are hollow, as opposed to solid (silver-gilt) and when you handle a lot of silver ones and then pick up a gold it's whoa! here's a pix of one I treasured the most, pure fine-gold, hollow and enamel, not a mark to be found, but obviously by Scharffenberg (Dresden)
Enjoy!

[stogieman]

Another...

Here's the Sax-Ernestine House Order, Knight's Cross 1.kl. in gold... Cased, of course!

[Zach]

Very nice, Claudio!
I bought the second class pictured below from Detlev for 650 Euros a little over 2 years ago (under $600. US at that time, I think). With 1,479 of these awarded in WWI they are a lot rarer than a 1939 Knight's Cross (7,361 according to Previtera) and not a whole lot more common than a Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves (890). I also have 2 Hessian Krieger- Ehrenzeichen in Eisen (iron), 1917 (from Detlev & Weitze) that I think are about as rare as my Zähringer Löwe but were a lot less expensive (though not nearly as beautiful). Again, very beautiful example you have there, Claudio!

[Mike Dunn]

At first, ask Stogieman, I did not like these medals. They looked strange to me. Then one day I got one and fell in love with them. While they look nice is photos, photos do not do justic to them. Beautiful awards and congrats to both of you! Great finds!! Mike

[Zach]

Thanks, Mike.
And you're right- the pictures don't do them justice. The details of the clouds are entrancing. I have another Zähringer with swords, without Oakleaves, and it's interesting to compare the small differences between the painted stonework and foliage on them.

[Tom Y]

Here's mine, the one on Dave's site. As Brian said, it 's not gold, but silver gilt, I think. Unfortunately I can't remove it from the bar to weigh it. It doesn't show too well on the scan, but the swords and bezel are bright gold, while the filigree is silver. The oakleaves are fire gilded.

[Brian S]

It's great to see it on a bar. Really defines the German states/principalities/etc.

[JensF.]

Wonderful items!!!

[Tom Y]

For Brian, here's the complete bar.