Got this @15 years ago.... Swapped it for a Special Deluxe WKC Navy, when i was more into Imperial.

I have the dealers original catalog will scan in the original description.

I did a bit of research into it at the time as the company that made the box are still about today. Spoke to a guy over the phone, who had worked there forever, he confirmed it was one of the box's from the description and would have been made in the 20's, and thet they probably mad the crosses as well. Apparently all Special Items were numbered on the box and would be easy to trace who ordered it, when it was made..etc... but i couldn�t find a number.
I had an invite to go and look through their books from that period, but was warned i would be no easy task... and i just never had the time.

The crosses are solid silver and handmade, only the miniature has a mark of 936 which if its the silver mark is very unusual as British sterling silver only needs to be 900.

All i can think is that someone had them commissioned , as several were awarded to British subjects (not many). But surly they could have picked one up at the time for a few pennies..
and probably not very politically correct after the war.. ?? to display in this way...

But here�s the pics and comments / theories welcome.

Mark

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Very very nice. There are IC patriotic type medals made in both the UK and USA as well- but these are amazing!

quote:

Originally posted by Lance:
There are IC patriotic type medals made in both the UK and USA as well

Patriotic, surely you dont mean Germans living in th UK at the time ???

Care to elaborate ...

Stirnpanzer,

The theories and possibilities for something as unique as this could span some diverse explanations - Lance's point may well be the simplest and best. Without somebody who was directly related to the production and/or ownership of this lovely pair to tell us about how they came into being, I think at best we can only hint at ideas..?
Is anyone related to the Goldsmith left that you might question? There were some made here in the States too, some great photographs on page 221 of Stephen Previtera's "The Iron Time." I'd imagine items like this would make great additions to any Kreuz collection worth its salt ..?

That has got to be one of the most interesting and handsome collectibles that I've seen in a while, very, very nice!

Bill

Hi Lance / Bill,

I think this one deserves a full research, as it may clear up why such peices exist.

I will contact the company again to see if the offer to go through their old order books from the period is still open.

As you can imagine i'm amazed that a British company even made the box, and possily the medals, following the fact almost a generation of young men had been wiped out..

If i can find out when / and for who these were made, it may clear up why some where made ...

Mark

Mr. Mark,

Yes, I think it'd be great if you could afford to spend additional time and effort researching the pair. Personally, I'd be very interested to hear any additional news that you might turn up,
please be so kind and keep us posted on that?

Again, great find!

Bill

Hi Mark,

By patriotic, I really meant the US made pieces which I assume were made prior to the US entering the war. (For German stock US immigrants.) I know I've seen UK made stuff, but haven't been able to find pics. I attributed those to postwar vets living in the UK- perhaps naively.