Austria, Empire. A Fine Red Cross Medal Bar with Eight Awards

1. An Iron Cross 1914 Second Class. (Eisernes Kreuz 1914 II. Klasse). Reinstituted 5 August 1914. (1914-1918 issue). Constructed of iron and silver, mounted on the ribbon bar with its period original combatant's ribbon, consisting of a Cross Pattée with a blackened magnetic iron core within a ribbed silver frame, the obverse with a central initial “W”, the six o’clock arm with a reinstitution date of “1914”, the twelve o’clock arm with a royal crown, the reverse with three central oak leaves, the six o’clock arm with an initial institution date of “1813”, the twelve o’clock arm with initials “FW” topped by a royal crown, unmarked, measuring 43.1 mm (w) x 43.2 mm (l).

2. An Order of the Iron Crown III Class. (Orden der Eisernen Krone, III. Klasse). Instituted January 1st, 1816. Type III (1860-1918). In bronze gilt, mounted on the ribbon bar with its period original ribbon featuring crossed swords, suspended from a hollow swivel crown, consisting of a double headed eagle perched on an iron crown with enamel details, a green enamel wreath along the bottom half, the eagle clutching a sword and orb in its talons with a blue enameled shield on its chest bearing the letter “F” in gilt, unmarked, measuring 29.1 mm (w) x 56.2 mm (l).

3. A Military Merit Cross, Second Period (1814-1918), III Class with War Decoration, (Militärverdienstkreuz, III Klasse). Instituted October 24th, 1849. Of multi-piece construction, mounted on the ribbon bar with its period original ribbon featuring crossed swords, consisting of a Cross Pattée with red and white enameled arms, with gilded laurel leaves in the quadrants between the arms of the cross, the obverse with a central white enameled medallion inscribed with “Verdienst” (Merit) in capital letters, the reverse with white enameled arms and a white enameled center medallion, unmarked, measuring 30.4 mm (w) x 30.4 mm (l).

4. A Military Merit Medal in Silver (Militärverdienstmedaille). Instituted March 12th, 1890. A round silver medal, mounted on the ribbon bar with its period original ribbon featuring crossed swords, consisting of a round medal bearing the rightward facing effigy of Kaiser Franz Joseph, circumscribed by his name and title, with a swivel crown mounted at the twelve o’clock position, measuring 30.8 mm in diameter.

5. A Military Merit Medal in gilded Bronze (Militärverdienstmedaille). Instituted March 12th, 1890. A round gilded bronze medal, mounted on the ribbon bar with its period original ribbon featuring crossed swords, consisting of a round medal bearing the rightward facing effigy of Kaiser Franz Joseph, circumscribed by his name and title, with a swivel crown mounted at the twelve o’clock position, measuring 30.6 mm in diameter.

6. An Honour Decoration of the Red Cross, Bronze Medal (Ehrenzeichen vom Roten Kreuz, Bronzene Medaille). Instituted August 14th, 1914. An oval gilded bronze medal, mounted on the ribbon bar with its period original ribbon, the obverse depicting two angel figurines holding a shield bearing a red cross, inscribed “Patriae A.C. Humanitati” in capital letters, with a green enameled laurel and oak wreath along the exterior edge of the medal, the reverse dated “1864-1914” with an oak and laurel wreath along the exterior edge, measuring 35.7 mm (w) x 45.8 mm (l).

7. A Commemorative Cross 1848-1908. Instituted August 10th, 1908, constructed of gilded bronze, mounted on the ribbon bar with its period original ribbon, consisting of a Cross Pattée with an oak wreath in the quadrants between the arms of the cross, the obverse depicting a rightward facing effigy of Kaiser Franz Joseph, the reverse dated “1848-1908” in large numbers centrally, measuring 36.2 mm (w) x 36.2 mm (l).

8. A Decoration of the Hungarian Red Cross, Silver Merit Medal. (A Magyar Vöröskereszt Díszjelvénye). Instituted March 30th, 1922. An oval gilded silver medal, mounted on the ribbon bar with its period original ribbon, consisting of an oval medal with a white enameled hungarian cross bearing a red enameled Greek Cross in the center and a silver Hungarian crown on the top arm of the cross with a green enameled background, the reverse inscribed “Crux Rubra Hungarica 1922” in capital letters, marked “935” along with a “Diana’s Head” hallmark and “A” for manufacture in Vienna, measuring 32.7 mm (w) x 44.8 mm (l).

All medals and decorations are mounted onto a medal bar with their respective Austrian-style period original ribbons, the medal bar with a zinc core, the reverse decorated with a grey blended fabric material and with a long bronze horizontal pinback for mounting onto an uniform tunic, measuring approximately 190 mm (w) x 55 mm (l), a fine example of an Austro-Hungarian Red Cross member’s medal bar, in overall very fine condition.