Pour le Merite with Oaks

[Alex W.]

Here is another St&L made Pour le Merite that I have picked up lately. I found this one particularly interesting since it's the "thick" PLM variant. Usually these thick PLM's are considered late-production, due to their overall quality.

This thick PLM however has an Oaks set attached, that should date to around 1957. They are gilded RK Oaks rather than the PLM-style Oaks. I'm sure however, that the Oaks and the PLM have been together from the start. The gilding is the same and a wear pattern from the sharp PLM edges is visible on the reverse of the Oaks. The Oaks also have the typical early "o" mark.
The enameling on the PLM body is beautifully made, with none of the uneven edges of the enameling, that are usually found on these thick PLM's.
It is usually thought, that only the thinner style St&L made PLM's were made in the earlier years. Maybe this theory needs revision, as this PLM does not look very late made IMO. Maybe both patterns (thin/thick) were produced around the same period for a while rather than consecutively.

As I already said in many previous St&L PLM related threads before; working out a correct timeline for these is not easy. I'm also still convinced that St&L produced some of their PLM's at least in the early '40s.

Best regards,
Alex

[Alex W.]

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[Alex W.]

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[Alex W.]

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[Nigel N]

Hi Alex!
Very nice PLM!!
While the thinner type are always of good quality, the thicker types can vary quite a bit!
The earliest thick type, are pretty much as good, or at least pretty close to, the quality of the thinner version, while the later pieces can be much poorer in terms of both enamelling and gilding.
I think the thicker type came after the thinner personally, I believe the timeline seems to point to that.
I am not sure wether S&L made the PLM in the 40's, without positive proof, I would be inclined to say no.....but could we tell if a PLM was made in 1946, 1950 etc. anyway?? Very hard to be sure!!!
I have seen gilded RK Oaks with PLM's before, nearly always with the thicker pieces, maybe S&L stopped making the PLM Oaks. and simply gilded RK Oaks instead, as an acceptable and cheaper alternative??
Anyway.....a great set!!!!!!!!
-Nigel

[Borzadow]

Beautiful !!! I love those Oaks

[Maciej G]

Hi Alex.
Very nice set.
An interesting addition is the box from the early period of "57" awards.

Best regards.

Maciej G.

[Tony T-S]

this is what I'm looking for without the chip. I must PM you and get some advice. Those oaks look almost as good as the ones you posted the other day. Nicely finished with the o present on the reverse. You're having an excellent start to the year.

[Tom B]

. Tom

[Skyhawk]

Beautiful !!! I love those Oaks

I agree with Patryk!!!

Superb images too!

Best,

Jeff

[Imperialww1]

Great find! love a thick PLM to go with my thin one and interesting to learn about the oaks thanks for sharing

[Imperialww1]

It would be interesting to know if they did produce any wartime shame no records survive yet S&L still exist.

[Alex W.]

It would be interesting to know if they did produce any wartime shame no records survive yet S&L still exist.

That would indeed be an interesting question. Never the less, I'm positive that St&L was producing their first PLMs at least by the late 1930's - early 1940's.

Best regards,
Alex

[Tom B]

WOW !!!!!!!!! Beautiful collection !!!!!!! Tom

[Ghocking]

Agree with you Tom.........WOW!!😍