103022 | GERMANY. Prisoners of War oval uniface cast bronze Medal.
Details
103022 | GERMANY. Prisoners of War oval uniface cast bronze Medal. Issued 1914. "Kriegsgefangene" (66mm x 64mm, 68.40 g). By Ludwig Gies for Carl Poellath in Schrobenhausen.
German soldier to far right, holding bayonet over shoulder and leading various prisoners of war by rope: French, Russian, Belgian, English, Serbian, and North African // Blank. Edge: C. POELLATH SCHROBENHAUSEN.
Klose 16.1; The Art of Devastation –; Frankenhuis 1374; Ernsting 62. Essentially as Made. Deep brown in hue, with a charming light matte nature to the surfaces and just a minor degree of rub across the high points. A tremendous example of this very rare "imprisonment" type from the early period of the war.
Ex David B. Simpson Collection.
On this otherwise unentitled work, Gies relies upon caricature to present the various enemies of Germany. For the most part, attire indicates the country of origin of each captive, though the one towering prisoner would appear to be an allusion to Belgium, given the taller (6'3") stature of King Albert—quite sizable when compared to other monarchs of the era.
Upload: 3 February 2025.