IMPERIAL GERMAN CASKET MEDAL AWARD TAPESTRY COVER

This is absolutely beautiful yet quite somber. This casket cover that was used in the military final send-off of a Bavarian officer. It is in the tradition of the velvet pillows used at the funerals of German soldiers from ancient times right up to today. The pillow is carried with the man’s medals and other decorations as the coffin is borne to the grave site. With the Bavarian army this is of course done in that manner as well but in addition a funerary box cover is placed on the casket as well with the man’s decorations depicted in applied bullion weave. Just like the company standards or the veterans flags. This is one is particularly beautiful in its presentation and has the Bavarian Crown at the top executed in the finest bullion detail. Under this is a grouping of medals that had been won by the deceased. They are shown on the typically shaped Bavarian style shield -- the shield shaped like the jousting shield of medieval tournaments. This is sectioned off into four segments each with a separate depiction of the award achieved during the man’s military career -- at the left top the 1st Class Ion Cross and below it is the military 1866 campaign cross from the seven weeks war between Prussia and Austria. Ludwig II preferred neutrality but reluctantly supported Austria and certain Bavarian troops actually engaged in combat, but not officially. But they were resoundingly defeated by the Prussian General Von Falkenstein, and this departed warrior was obviously one of the officers in that ill-fated campaign. To the right on the top is Bavarian military Merit Cross established on July 19, 1866. It was the Kingdom's main decoration for bravery and military merit for non-commissioned officers. Below this is the Service Medal for Military participation in the 1870-1871 Franco-Prussian war. So, this man was a soldier brave! And his comrades honored him through his military career and now he was being highly honored in his passing. The words “Mit Gott for Konig II” means with God for the Kaiser II. This was Kaiser Wilhelm II, Prussian King and Emperor of all the German states, including of course Bavaria. The brocade oak leaves and acorns and the laurel leaves are in the very finest of detail as are all the other decorative trappings. This is an utterly fantastic piece and surely this man was very highly thought of by the men of his division or regiment to invest in a funerary cover as elaborate and gorgeous as this one. It is nothing short of spectacular. It measures about 35 inches across the bottom and a you can see it tapers into a pyramid shape on its way to the uppermost portion where the crown is seen. We have never seen such tight bullion work. This is simply a masterpiece of the flag maker’s skill. A great museum item., and a fitting tribute to the spirit of the German officer.