Zähringer Löwen Orden

[avensis2000]

I have decided to concentrate now collecting German States medals/crosses, and my favourite of these is Zähringer Löwen. Would be nice if you guys who have any OZL crosses in your collections, could post some pictures of your crosses here (I will post my own ones after I get them). And of course would be interesting if you can tell also some details about the quality of the cross and other (also just basic) information at the same time...

[VtwinVince]

Okay, I'll get the ball rolling. Here is the spange of Feldwebel Michael Marbeiter. There were apparently less than twenty awards of the BZL to EM's in the 1870 conflict, which seems weird, as this is an order, so should properly never have gone to enlisted personnel. The Silver Merit Medal is of the first coinage, so correct for the bar, and he won the RAO as a Hofdiener later. I also have other items from this individual.

[MauserKar98k]

That is one amazing medal brace.

[Wild Card]

[saschaw]

Very interresting bar, but I find it odd the Zähringer Löwe is not an 1870/71 type. Are you sure the merit medal is a 1869 type? It does have the engravers name then below the bust?

[avensis2000]

Nice bar, yes

Saschaw - since I am new with these could you advice me, how you can tell that OZL is not 1870/71 type? Thanks in advance.

[saschaw]

From the medaillon painture, it is definitely a cross made by C. F. Zimmermann from Pforzheim, who begann to deliever the crosses just about 1900.

It could be one from colonial era, but is most likely a WW1 era cross.

[VtwinVince]

Sascha, the merit medal does have the engraver name below the bust. I wonder if the BZL was replaced due to damage later on? It does not look like the bar has been fooled around with, and the date of construction looks to be about 1900.

[saschaw]

The bar looks absolutely fine and should date in between 1897 (Prussian medal) and 1902 due to lack of the Baden 1902 jubilee medal.

This is also the time frame Zimmermann from Pforzheim started to produce them, so it may well be a replacement for the old, damaged one.

[VtwinVince]

Sascha, I think you are correct, and it looks like this was originally a pure Feldspange 'alter Art' which was converted about 1900 for wear with the medals, and I think the oakleaves and KDM bars were also added then. It is too bad that the BZL is a later piece, but at least the Karl Friedrich Medal is from the period.Some other members must have examples of this order to show? I will bring home one other I have and show it soon.

[avensis2000]

Ta-da-DAA!!

My new treasures arrived today. Opinions?





and

[saschaw]

Not to bad for a start!



Is that first one a knight's cross? Great mid-19th century quality...

[avensis2000]

Well... Have to start from somewhere

The one without swords is commander's cross - unfortunately it has wrong shaped ring(?) but that is not a big issue for me, lower one is 2nd class knight's cross (with swords).

Uuuuu.... I think I am on way to lot of trouble - I like these....

[saschaw]

Commander? Even nicer....



I don't see what's wrong with the ring. Everything fine from here.

[avensis2000]

Oh, I thought it should be that "higher" oval shaped, not the round one. Anyway, I am happy with both and I hope my wife don't find out how much they cost to me