What is this guy wearing?

[CRBeery]

I have had this for nearly a year now and it has finally started to drive me crazy. I have never found another picture with this type of award or decoration. I do not think it is military but possibly fraternal. There are plenty of crowns and eagles but I see no swords. On the left side of the pic there are some rifle stocks on two of the medals. Is this guy a grand shooting champion? Any help on this would be great!

Thanks,
Chet

[CRBeery]

Here is what is written on the back. Other than the date I am lost.

Chet

[georgecl]

I,ve seen awards worn like this. Usually Shooting awards."Shooting King"

Check if any awards have crossed rifles..

Maybe?

George L

[Arran]

Civil Official?

I suspect that this fellow is some sort of Civic Official and that this is a collar of office...

[joerookery]

Hi,

I've seen things similar worn by Lord Mayors of even pretty small towns. Nothing with rifles so this is just a guess.

[Robin Lumsden]

The back just says:

'With friendly memories to...........' and the guy's signature. Then Stettin and the date.

I think this is just some civil organisation - maybe a trade guild, masonic group or similar - where this guy was an official.

We must remember that photo portraits in these days were 'big things' - not the snapshots we take for granted today. He probably paid quite a sum to have his photo taken. He would have been proud of it.

[CRBeery]

Thank you all for the replies and the translation! I would love to see this collar in person. It looks very impressive. I bought this picture out of a pile of them and one of the other pics was veteran and shooting related. Maybe I buying out of a shooting related group and did not realize it.

Thanks,
Chet

[Rick Research]

Since these things are ENORMOUS, and it is dedicated to a "Brother" I'd go with the fraternal/guild rather than shooting, too.

[Si1964]

Chet

I would concur, my first thought was a Mayor seal Of Office, but also masonic sounds good to me.

Just my 2 cents worth

[Kurt Doench]

Though not of much use with the Imperial stuff, I can rule out a fraternal context, masons seems likely, the strangely patterned lines surely have a meaning. Perhaps a mason active here can give an identification (or just rule them out).

Regards,

Karl

Since these things are ENORMOUS, and it is dedicated to a "Brother" I'd go with the fraternal/guild rather than shooting, too.

[Tom Y]

Two have crossed rifles and some of others look similar to Masonic jewels I've seen. Maybe a multi-purpose job,Schützen/Masonic?