(Ordensschnalle mit Auszeichnungen). A superb medal bar attributed to Chief Machinist Oswald Frentz, a veteran of the Boxer Rebellion who later served in the First World War and Finnish civil war as a crewman on board HMS Nautilus, consisting of:
A medal bar featuring right decorations, including:
1. A 1914 Iron Cross II Class, constructed of iron and silver,on loop for suspension with its period original 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, without visible marks, measuring 43.65 mm (w) x 47.88 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.
2. An Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 for Combatants, constructed of bronzed magnetic metal, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, consisting of a Cross Pattée with crossed swords piercing the centrepiece, the obverse bearing central wreathed dates “1914-1918”, the reverse maker marked with the logo of Reichsverband Pforzheim, measuring 38.03 mm (w) x 42.73 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.
3. A China Medal, constructed of bronze, consisting of a circular laurel leaf wreath, the obverse bearing a raised German national eagle grappling with a Chinese dragon, the reverse bearing a central crowned monogram of Kaiser Wilhelm II, circumscribed by inscriptions of “DEN SIEGREICHEN STREITERN” (“TO THE VICTORIOUS FIGHTERS”) and “1900 CHINA 1901”, unmarked, measuring 32.52 mm in diameter, in extremely fine condition.
4. A Prussian General Honour Medal, II Class, constructed of silver, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, the obverse bearing a raised monogram of King Friedrich Wilhelm III, the reverse bearing a wreathed inscription of “VERDIENST UM DEN STAAT” (“SERVICE TO THE STATE”), unmarked, measuring 39.25 mm in diameter, in extremely fine condition.
5. A Prussian Long Service Award, I Class for 15 Years, constructed of copper, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, consisting of a Cross Pattée with ribbed arms, the obverse bearing a central raised crown, the reverse bearing a central raised number “15” in Roman numerals, unmarked, measuring 36.16 mm (w) x 39.90 mm (h), in near extremely fine condition.
6. A Kaiser Wilhelm I Centenary Medal, constructed of gilded bronze, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, unmarked, measuring 39.69 mm in diameter, in extremely fine condition.
7. A Finnish Order of the Cross of Liberty, I Class Medal, constructed of silver, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, the obverse bearing a central raised Finnish national lion wielding a sword, circumscribed by inscriptions of “FOR BRAVERY” in both Finnish and Swedish, the reverse bearing a central inscription of “SUOMEN KANSALTA 1918” (“FROM THE FINNISH NATION 1918”), unmarked, measuring 28.78 mm in diameter, in extremely fine condition.
8. A Finnish War of Liberation Commemorative Medal, constructed of silvered magnetic iron, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, the obverse bearing a raised Finnish national lion rampant wielding a sword, the reverse bearing a raised Cross Pattée overlaid by a swastika, flanked by arms wielding swords and a date of “1918”, the obverse bearing an illegible maker’s mark, measuring 30.15 mm in diameter, in extremely fine condition.
All suspended from a 220 mm-long zink bar with a horizontal pinback and black wool reverse liner, demonstrating moderate soiling and material fatigue to the ribbons with some bending of the core, in better than very fine condition;
notably accompanied by a loose Finnish Order of the Cross of Liberty, II Class Medal, constructed of bronze, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, the obverse bearing a central raised Finnish national lion wielding a sword, circumscribed by inscriptions of “FOR BRAVERY” in both Finnish and Swedish, the reverse bearing a central inscription of “SUOMEN KANSALTA 1918” (“FROM THE FINNISH NATION 1918”), unmarked, measuring 29.01 mm in diameter, in extremely fine condition.
Accompanied by a matching ribbon bar, featuring all nine decoration affixed to a 135 mm-long zink bar with a horizontal pinback and black wool reverse liner, retaining a maker’s label reading “GRABOW & MATTHES, KIEL”, demonstrating replacement of the Finnish Order of the Cross of Liberty, I Class Medal ribbon, in addition to minor soiling and material fatigue, in better than very fine condition.
Also accompanied by a postcard showing SMS Nautilus navigating the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal (now the Kiel Canal), the reverse bearing a handwritten dedication to an Imperial German Navy sailor, postmarked from Cuxhaven on 9 December 1907, measuring 14 cm (w) x 9 cm (h), in extremely fine condition, and; also accompanied by an unidentified marksmanship decoration, constructed of silvered bronze, on loop for suspension from its period original tri-fold ribbon, unmarked, measuring 33.30 mm (w) x 37.00 mm (h), in very fine condition.
Footnote: SMS Nautilus was a minelaying cruiser built for the Imperial German Navy, launched August 1906 and commissioned in March 1907. She was the lead ship of the Nautilus class minelaying pair. Nautilus initially carried a battery of eight 8.8 cm guns and 186 naval mines, with the latter being increased to 205. With the outbreak of the First World War, Nautilus laid defensive and offensive minefields in the North and Baltic seas in support of Germany’s campaign to secure its northern coast. She participated in Operation Albion in October 1917, supporting Germany’s successful conquest of the Gulf of Riga.
Shortly after, Nautilus’ armaments were re-tooled to allow the ship to support amphibious landing operations, with anti-aircraft batteries, machine guns, and even flamethrowers added. In February 1918, Nautilus was deployed to intervene in the Finnish Civil War in support of the anti-communist faction. She was decommissioned after the First World War in accordance with Germany’s naval reduction under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, later being used as storage hulk before being sold for scrap and broken up in Copenhagen in 1928.