Austria-Hungary, Empire. An Army Field Pilot’s Badge

(Flugzeugführerabzeichen). Constructed of gilded bronze with multi-coloured enamels, the obverse consisting of a green enameled oval oak leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by a white shield bearing a red monogram of Emperor Franz Joseph, topped by a gilt imperial crown with ribbon highlighted in red enamels, overlaid by an Austrian national eagle in mid-flight over a hollow background, the reverse with two visible rivets securing the eagle in place, with a raised barrel hinge and vertical pinback meeting a rounded catch, unmarked, measuring 55.80 mm (w) x 62.85 mm (h), weighing 25.0 grams, the eagle has slightly loosed and the crown’s cross has been bent at a sharpe angle, in overall near extremely fine condition.