Zähringer Löwen Orden

[Ironcrown]

What is the difference between the decorations with and without swords?
Was the decoration without sword awarded in peacetime or to civilians?

)

Were my questions too stupid or to difficult to be replied?

[saschaw]

Neither, sorry for the delay!

The order of the Zähringer lion was a general merit order. It was awarded in war and peace, to civilians as to military from ca. 1815 on, up to the end of monrachy in november 1918.

In 1866 swords were added for military war merit, to distinguish them from civilian and peace time awards. Before, they all did look the same.

There were, also in 1866, swords on ring instituted for military merit of non-military persons. They were awarded only very few and no longer than 1879, while the common awards with swords became a mass decoration in WW1, with thousands awarded to officers of all ranks (different classes depending on that).

[Ironcrown]

Thanks saschaw, all clear
So the one I posted should have been awarded either before 1866 or to a civilian after this date. Right?
Also, is the order without swords much rarer than the version with swords?

[naxos]

Just to add to the thread:

[saschaw]

Ironcrown, your cross is a knight's cross 2nd class. This class was not instituted until 1866, so cannt pre-date this. It is a peace time and/or civilian award, made by tha last maker, C. F. Zimmermann from Pforzheim, who delievered them from about ca. 1900 on. The ring is replaced.

Wheater crosses with or without swords are rarer, depends on the class we're talking about.

Your knight's cross 2nd class is rarer without swords. For the higher grades, it's the other way round.

I bought a nice medal bar recently and will add a picture to this very nice thread as soon as possible.

[Ironcrown]

Thanks again, saschaw

[Wild Card]

That star in post #30 is absolutely super!

About all that I can offer here is -

[Roglebk]

Another stunning mini!

[Wild Card]

Thank you Roglebk

[saschaw]

Here's my latest Zähringer addition. I got it from Christian Lehrle's Bene Merenti auction in Stuttgart about three weeks ago.

I actually didn't want to go for it, but for the starting price... just had to take it!

[Don D.]

Very nice.

[luftkrieg]

Here's my latest Zähringer addition. I got it from Christian Lehrle's Bene Merenti auction in Stuttgart about three weeks ago.

I actually didn't want to go for it, but for the starting price... just had to take it!

I can understand why you could not walk away from this one Sascha!!

[avensis2000]

Nice one Sascha!

I was going to bid on that too but forgot to do it.

Well... Not so bad "accident" anyway, I am on little bit tight budget for these at the moment, can use the money for feeding the family too I guess

Good to see the bar got to good home anyway.

[saschaw]

Thanks! If I should want to get rid of it again at some point...

[Blitz]

I haven't posted here for a while, but the thread peaked my curiosity.. Here's my contribution. Those holes in the centre are still, should fill them up sometime..