Germany, Imperial. A 1914 Iron Cross I Class, Privately-Purchased Example, by Paul Meybauer United Republic of constructed of black cotton

constructed of black cotton

in finely toned silver gilt with enamels

with a central fireman’s helmet on top of crossed swords

to reduce the vulnerability of army divisional supply chains

label affixed to the bottom inscribed "R

Germany, Imperial. A 1914 Iron Cross I Class, Privately-Purchased Example, by Paul Meybauer United Republic of constructed of black cotton(Eisernes Kreuz 1914 I. Klasse). Reinstituted 5 August 1914 by Kaiser Wilhelm II. (1914 1918 issue). Constructed of iron and silver, consisting of a vaulted Cross Patte with a blackened magnetic iron core within a ribbed silver frame, the obverse with a central initial W, the six oclock arm with a reinstitution date of 1914, the twelve oclock arm with a royal crown, the reverse with a block hinge and tapering vertical pinback meeting a round wire