Strange Arts & Sciences medal

[Albrecht]

Greetings All,

Posting images of a strange piece being auctioned. Purportedly an award for achievements in the Arts & Sciences.

My assumption is that this is a fantasy piece, but am curious if anyone has encountered anything like this before. Is it based an an actual award? The text, 'Für Kunst und Wissenschaft' seems taken from an imperial Bavarian medal. The badge itself looks cast, based on the pictures.

Any and all insight welcome.

Best Regards

[Albrecht]

Makers mark

Here is a picture of the markings on the back

[RonR]

From the net:

The German National Prize for Art and Science was the highest peace award from the National Socialist German Reich.

In 1937 it was instituted by Adolf Hitler and should take the place of the Nobel Prize.

The award provided for a single grade, and consisted of a check for 100,000 Reichsmark, a decoration, a headband and a diploma.

.......................

[Albrecht]

From the net:

The German National Prize for Art and Science was the highest peace award from the National Socialist German Reich.

In 1937 it was instituted by Adolf Hitler and should take the place of the Nobel Prize.

The award provided for a single grade, and consisted of a check for 100,000 Reichsmark, a decoration, a headband and a diploma.

Very interesting, thank you, Ron!

The piece being auctioned looks like a reproduction of this award. Has anyone every encountered an original?

[squidney86]

Fewer then 10 were ever awarded. Which makes me wonder how many survived the war?

Sydney

[Wim Vangossum]

Not fantasy, it exist as a replacement of the Nobel Prize. But is the rarest of the rarest.


Regards, Wim

[Albrecht]

Intersting badge

Thanks for the additional information. It is certainly an interesting piece, very curious to learn more about this award.

[J C Gray]

I have always been fascinated by this award and as noted above, it certainly is no fantasy piece, however the example that you show from the auction is a fake. Although there were reportedly various 'dress copies' authorized, which were made because the sheer weight of the award pieces apparently made them impractical for wearing, they were still of the highest quality and multi-piece construction, unlike this one. The most noticeable differences are the badly applied red and white paint instead of enamel and the profile on the central medallion is meant to be 'Pallas Athena', Greek Goddess of Art, Wisdom & Warfare, whereas this one clearly looks like a dude.
If you google it, you should be able to find out quite concise details about the award, but here is a quick summary;
It was only awarded 8 times and was originally instituted in 1937 as an alternative to the Nobel Prize in protest against the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Karl von Ossietzky, who had previously been "condemned for high treason" by the National Socialist Government. The bestowal took place in Nuremberg at special ceremonies during September of 1937 and then again in 1938. The first awards went to the following:- Paul Ludwig Troost (posthumously), Alfred Rosenberg, Dr. August Bier and Dr. Ferdinand Sauerbruch...the latter two recipients had to share the monetary prize equally between them.
The 1938 awards were given to Fritz Todt, Ferdinand Porsche, Ernst Heinkel and Willy Messerschmitt...again the cash part of the prize was shared equally between the two latter recipients.
The award star was designed by 'Müller-Erfurt' of Berlin and manufactured by 'Juwelier Hülse' of Berlin (apparently) from solid platinum and gold and set with 40 diamonds. The award was accompanied by a shoulder sash with rosette and a certificate and folder similar to the RK Mappe which was signed by AH & Goebbels. The 1937 certificates came in a specially designed cassette which was made by Frieda Thiersch and was a work of art in its own right ie. the Mappe with Urkunde were set into the lid of the cassette and held in place by four National Eagle clasps to the corners. This lid lifted up to reveal a velvet lined recess with a raised cushion for the Star, which in turn lifted out of the cassette to reveal a further velvet lined lower area for the sash and rosette. Due to the posthumous awarding to Troost, his wife received a different, more simple version of the certificate, which was very similar to an Oakleaves Mappe ie. with an applied 3D Gilded eagle to the front, but covered with red leather.
The certificates which accompanied the 1938 awards were not as elaborate as the previous year in that the cassette was omitted and the star was presented in a red leather jewellers phase pouch.
Below is shown period photographs of the star and sash...

[J C Gray]

...and the Mappe...

[J C Gray]

...another couple of photos of the 1938 award ceremony as shown by Ron...

[Stan]

I agree with the others that the piece posted by Albrecht is a fake.

The one posted by Ron is identical to an original one I was offered approx 13 years ago.

Stan

[Albrecht]

Fascinating

Thank you, J C Gray for elaborating on the background behind this piece. Very interesting history here indeed.

Yes, the differences between the piece at auction and the original are very clear. I agree that the Athena profile looks decidedly masculine. The information posted mentions a 'walking out' version of the award, but I doubt the initial piece posted is even that, given the obvious discrepancies.

Thanks again to all who responded, always great to learn about a new (to me anyway) artifact.

Best Regards