Description
TURKEY – PATRIOTIC PIN – GALLIPOLI STAR – MINIATURE
During WW I, the Central Powers lined up against the Allies consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey, and Bulgaria. The early through mid-war years revealed numerous signs of this cooperation. Patriotic jewelry was certainly one means of expressing the cooperation, particularly in the German and Austro-Hungarian Empires (perhaps due to the Teutonic ties between them). Turkey and Bulgaria also produced such artifacts, if on a less-plentiful scale. Our offering today reflects the Turkish involvement with a silver-toned badge that features an Iron Cross as its central theme. The cross’s center displays the word “Deutschland,” with the date, “1916,” below it. The cross is topped by a crown. A pair of crossed swords extends through the cross’s center. A crescent-shaped banner, with a star (which may represent a mini-Gallipoli Star) sitting atop its middle, is attached to the cross just above the two swords’ tips. The crescent bears the legend “Kriegs Andenken” (War Souvenirs). A miniature Gallipoli Star dangles from a jump ring attached to the middle-bottom of the crescent. The Star is in very fine condition, and even has enameled arms like its full-sized counterparts. While the decoration’s metal is silver-toned, no silver content hallmarks are visible on it.
This exceptional piece of patriotic jewelry is in wonderful condition. It would make a captivating addition to any collection.
