A Breast Cross or what????

[Tom Piotro]

I picked this up at a gun show this weekend, not sure if military, fraternal, religious or what.
As can be seen the one arm is longer as in a mothers cross, size is 2 ½ inches high at center of cross and 2 ¼ wide at center of cross. Heavily vaulted.
Multi piece construction, cross on back appears to be soldered and is riveted to main cross body.
The cross is not marked with a makers mark or silver content , it seems to be made of silver.
The front enamel center has a appearance that something might have been mounted at center.
Could not find anything close in my reference books or online search.


Anyone out there have an idea on country or origin.
Thank you in advance for helping.
Tom

[Tom Piotro]

2 more shots

more photos

[Tom Piotro]

2 more shot

2 more photos

[Tom Piotro]

cross center

cross center

[streptile]

Hi Tom,

This is the Order of the Teutonic Knights, or the Breast Star of the Teutonic Knights. There are a lot of different types of these, and they were made for a very long time. I hope someone else can authenticate and date it.

This page has some info:

http://www.imperialteutonicorder.com/id51.html

Also this dealer had two for sale. Scroll about 1/4 down the page:

http://www.jkmilitaria.com/Germany.html

I'll copy his text below for reference (not sure how accurate it is):

Order of the Teutonic Knights (also known as Order of German Knights, Order of Knights of Prussia and Order of the Marian Cross and Deutscher Ritter Orden). Established in 1190 by Duke Frederick of Schwabia as an Order of Knighthood under the name of German Order of Hospital of St. Mary in Jerusalem. Originally only German noblemen were admitted, later on it become a Roman Catholic Order, membership extended to most distinguished members of the clergy and other Noblemen (mostly Germanic origins). After the fall of Jerusalem, Order concentrated activities in North Eastern Europe where it came to great power as a Teutonic Order (State).Territories under their influence included Prussia, Curland, Livonia, Estonia along with parts of Lithuanian Dukedom and Polish Kingdom. Cross-border conflicts with surrounding powers along with political/religious issues lead to war with crucial battle of Tannenberg (Grunwald) in 1410 - the single largest battle or Mediaeval Europe. The Teutons lost the fight and their capitol Marienburg (Malbork) was besieged by the Polish armies shortly after. Marienburg fortress would not yield though. Even though not really defeated, their 'crusade' of expansion was over. For nearly 4 Centuries Order became increasingly influenced by the Brandenburg and Prussian powers. Finally, in 1809 Napoleon had partially dissolved the Order after defeating German/Prussian/Austrian armies in numerous battles. Under Austrian protection Order was re-established (by Ferdinand I) and their statutes drawn in 1839. In 1871 the Grand Master of the Order Archduke Wilhelm established a new category of the Order called Marian Knights and Dames.

[Elmar Lang]

Hello,

it's a fine "Profeßkreuz" of the Deutsch-Ritterorden of old, most possibly Austrian, manufacture. The enamel damage to the centre occurs quite often.

I congratulate for the interesting find.

Best wishes,

E.L.

[Tom Piotro]

Thank you, streptile and Elmar for the quick ID of the Professed Knight's Breast Cross.


Wasn't quite sure what it was , looked old, well made and European. I was leaning toward some type of court award or order.


Any idea if when it was made and was this a jeweler made piece.
Tom

[Elmar Lang]

Hello,

these breast crosses appear in many variations, of size, manufacture and details.

All were made by jewellers, usually Rothe, Mayer's Söhne, Rozet & Fischmeister, all in Vienna, but surely other austrian manufacturers produced such pieces.

In Austria didn't exist the german "Probemäßigkeit" of orders: jewellers had to be adherent to what prescribed in the statutes, but each of them could put some of his own.

I think that your piece could be dated around 1850-1870: it is unmarked (as almost normal until 1867) and its reverse allows me to think that the cross could have been made by messrs. Resch of Vienna; a firm that closed its austrian branch in the early '70s of 19th century.

Best wishes,

E.L.