But, just to clarify, the Johannine knights (both Rechtsritter and Ehrenritter) are allowed to wear cloth breast crosses (nowadays, generally of unembroidered linen) as well as metallic ones. However, the practice, which recalls the earlier days of the Order (until the early nineteenth century, almost all breast crosses of whatever chivalric order were embroidered fabric; and the breast crosses of the Order's fighting period, the Crusades and early modern era, were of simple unadorned linen) is increasingly rare; at a recent church service in Germany, for example, I saw cloth breast crosses (all but one, unembroidered) on only a handful of the more than fifty knights gathered; I saw only one metallic (white-enamelled gold) breast cross. Each breast cross, metallic or cloth, appeared to be about 50 mm. by 50 mm. in size.
I think that the Malteser wear only metallic breast crosses, and it's possible that only certain classes of their order are allowed to wear them.
It must have been one of the gilt-and-enamel breast crosses that I saw a month ago, then, not a gold-and-enamel one. (I was at enough of a distance that the gilding succeeded in looking like solid gold.) I don't think that metallic breast crosses are still manufactured for the Johanniter, though some men might purchase ones through the much larger Order of Malta (the majority of the mediaeval Order of Saint John remained Roman Catholic at the Reformation, and that majority are the Malteser of today).
I note that the uniform of the Johannine knights never was abolished, though I have never seen it worn. Instead, the Johanniter (including the Dutch knights and dames, who separated from the German bailiwick shortly after the Second World War) wear capes and dark suits for such ceremonies as church services. Both the Malteser and the Venerable Order of Saint John (the recreation of the English part of the mediaeval Order of Saint John, now worldwide) are much more elaborate in ceremonial dress.
It must have been one of the gilt-and-enamel breast crosses that I saw a month ago, then, not a gold-and-enamel one. (I was at enough of a distance that the gilding succeeded in looking like solid gold.) I don't think that metallic breast crosses are still manufactured for the Johanniter, though some men might purchase ones through the much larger Order of Malta (the majority of the mediaeval Order of Saint John remained Roman Catholic at the Reformation, and that majority are the Malteser of today).
I note that the uniform of the Johannine knights never was abolished, though I have never seen it worn. Instead, the Johanniter (including the Dutch knights and dames, who separated from the German bailiwick shortly after the Second World War) wear capes and dark suits for such ceremonies as church services. Both the Malteser and the Venerable Order of Saint John (the recreation of the English part of the mediaeval Order of Saint John, now worldwide) are much more elaborate in ceremonial dress.
I think I see (at left) part of a Teutonic Order's Cross...
The lions between the arms mean one of the priorates (Austria and Bohemia have double eagles). the cross shown was pictured with the suspension bow reversed: the pendalia appear as upwards... against Newton's law...
I think I see (at left) part of a Teutonic Order's Cross...
The lions between the arms mean one of the priorates (Austria and Bohemia have double eagles). the cross shown was pictured with the suspension bow reversed: the pendalia appear as upwards... against Newton's law...
A very fine, old piece anyways.
All the best,
Enzo (E.L.)
yes ,an old auction catalogue 1929
32 pages with pictures of rare coins ,,but also 6 pages with world wide medals .
no iron crosses pictures ( only listed )but still a gem of a catalogue ....
sadly I am no coin collector ,,,,have to sell it some time but ,,, I do not know coin collectors
so far it comes in handy with such treads like this one
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