Description
This is an unusual badge from Belgium that began in the 19th Century as an award for success in industry and agriculture. It later became a labor decoration and apparently is still issued now in a 1958 configuration. Our example is the 1905 type for the Industry and Agriculture Award 2nd Class. An oval-shaped metal medallion hangs down from an articulated crown. The crown is attached to a jump ring that holds a short length of black, gold and red ribbon. The badge measures 2 1/8″ x 1″ from the top of its crown to the base of the oval. The outer section of the oval is decorated with blue enamel leaves and berries. Another smaller oval is centered within it, faintly gilt in color, with these words on either side “Habilete Moralite Bekwa Amheid Zedelijkheid” (Moral skill Durability is more skilled Morality). [This came from an online translation program, which is not terribly sophisticated]. A shield with a rampant lion is at the oval’s top, right beneath the crown. The oval’s center features a bee hive and various work tools. Evidently, these medals were awarded for contributions to Belgium’s economy in the industrial and agricultural areas.
