Nice miniature bar

[Dete]

Hello,

today i got this nice litle bar from a client. What is the last award.
Is it right that it s from the time around 1813 - 15?.
Thank for your help.
Detlev

[Dansson]

The bar looks French?

[Wild Card]

Hello Detlev,

That is indeed a nice little bar that you have there. I would like to pass on a couple of observations that I hope you will find to be helpful.

As Dansson points out, with the Legion of Honor in the first place, it is likely French.

Now with regard to age, I think that your estimate of 1813-15 may be a bit too early. The second decoration is a Hannoverian Order of the Guelph 4th class cross with swords. The fourth class cross (with and without swords) was founded in 1841. There is a long and interesting story behind this one, but I won’t bore you with it here.

Next, in third place, is what appears to be a Schwarzburg-Rudlostadt/Sondershausen honor cr0ss third class - the reverse should tell us which house this one came from. This decoration was not awarded until 1857. So this would put your bar to sometime after 1857.

With regard to the fourth decoration, all that I can offer is that the crown looks kind of Bavarian. Not much help there, sorry. I do hope though that the above information is of some help and look forward to other comments and observations.

Best wishes,

Wild Card

[Dete]

Thank you very much, thats really helpful. I think i ll get the award docs later.
Here is a picture of the backside.
Thanks again and best regards.
Detlev

[Valter Gorenc]

That's a really nice mini bar!

Cmon, can't we identify the last one? I checked ribbon and it matches Bavarian red cross/krankenpflege decorations, but that's obviously not a case. It's also a match for some Schaumburg-Lippe and Schwarzburg decorations, can be one of their earlier service crosses? Or some of the 19th century states that became part of Prussia after 1871? Or something close to Germany and France, like Netherland or Luxemburg?

[Wild Card]

Hello again Detlev,

A little additional information on your mini bar. Your photo of the reverse confirms that your Schwarzburg cross is from Sonderhausen, not Rudolstadt. As mentioned before, these crosses were awarded between 1857 and 1901; and according to Jörg Nimmergut’s magnum opus only 65 were awarded.

I still can not offer anything with regard to the “XX” cross.

Sorry,

Wild Card

[Dete]

Hi,

thanks again for your information. I am not sure if i can get the bar. The owner delivered for our next auction. So i ll see if additional things like award docs come up.

Best regards.

[Rangemaster]

Hello Dete:

I believe that the last award is a "Schwarburg Dienstauszeichnungskreuz für Offiziere nach 20 Dienstjahren". It is a stylized miniature (1st or 2nd type) missing the cipher. Miniatures were often inaccurate and this type of thing is common. Congratulations regarding this outstanding group. By all means get the award documents that go with this group.

MfG,

[Valter Gorenc]

Great news, gentlemen, I'm glad one of my semi-educated guesses was right. "Stylized" version for mini bar makes perfect sense to me. I hope Detlev gets documents too, it would be amazing group and good research material.