Belgian Congo Order of Leopold II Knight's Cross

[streptile]

Hi guys,

Picked this up as a souvenir from a recent trip to Belgium.

I understand it's an order of Leopold II, Knight's Cross, from the Belgian Congo.

Can anyone give any more information or details? Maker? Period? Value? Materials?

All help gratefully received

[Laurence Strong]

http://users.skynet.be/hendrik/


Cheers
Larry

[streptile]

Hi Larry,

Thank you for the link; I do know that page but unless I've missed something it doesn't contain much information about period of manufacture, makers, materials, etc.

Any more comments?

[Gene]

Maybe contact member Blitz (Antii Ruokonen). He is an author of several superlative books, including one on Belgian orders.

http://arbooks.netanvia.fi/books/

[Laurence Strong]

Some info on the crowns, that I have found over the years.......

A: Order of Leopold I, Military Division w-Espagnol Style Crown circa.1832. Maker: Unknown<O</O
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B: Order of Leopold I, Civil Division w-Bombe' Style Crown circa.1839. Note how the crown widened at the center compared to the earlier Espagnol style. Maker: Unknown<O</O
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C: Order of Leopold I, Civil Division w-Gonfle' Style Crown circa.1845. Maker: Unknown<O</O
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D: Order of Leopold I, Civil Division w-Aplati Style Crown circa.1900. This is the style associated with WWI and WWII. Maker: Wolfers of Brussels
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E: Order of Leopold I, Civil Division w-Aplati Style Crown circa.1951. Notice how the ends of the crown have been flattened or squared off. This piece has the bilingual center. Maker: Unknown



Cheers
Larry


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[streptile]

Hi Gene and Larry,

Thank you for that info. Larry, great chart you made there.

to me, the crown on mine looks like the same as the one you labeled (D). Would you agree?

[dcollect]

hi

what is the price you payed for this ?
shop , or flea market ?
these are very scarce medals and they have been copied these days by a firm de greef of brussels , i need more pics of the medal to say it is a good one or not .

bjorn .

[streptile]

Hi Bjorn,

Tell me what photos you need.

Can you post a photo of the fake please?

[peter monahan]

One of my favourite decorations, just for the look - elegant yet understated.

[dcollect]

as promised , here is a pic of a reproduction ,



these have been made for only 8 years and never have the modern crowns , all these examples with the modern crownes are dated after the WW1 until now .

thanks ,

[streptile]

Thank you Bjorn.

I am no expert but to me the central medallion on the fake looks smooth around its rim, whereas mine is serrated.

But I await the verdict of the experts.


.

[dcollect]

yes ,

the center piece looks ok but i have to have a picture of the crown in detail so i can look for more information .
after 1908 some of these are made with a perfect original center piece but mounted on a later medal by the same factory that made the later examples with the lion on the front .

thanks ,

[streptile]

Hi Bjorn,

Thank you for taking the time to look.

Obverse:

IMG_7027.jpg

Reverse:

IMG_7023.jpg