chain;
watch-chain
- Museum number
- 2015,8045.1
- Description
-
Iron watch-chain, obling links with a swivel at each end, with two cast oval links, one with the Prussian coat-of-arms on each side, the other with the date 1916 and the text GOLD ZUR WEHR / EISEN ZUR EHR (Gold for weapons, iron for honour), on each side.
- Production date
- 1916
- Dimensions
-
Length: 48.20 centimetres
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
- The First World war saw a revival of the practice begun in Berlin during the Napoleonic wars of handing in gold jewellery to finance the war effort and receiving iron jewellery instead. For another example, a ring dating from 1914, see 1990,0409.1. For a similar watch-chain and other examples of First World War iron jewellery see E. Bartel (ed), 'Die Königliche Eisen- Giesserei zu Berlin', exhibition catalogue, Stadtmuseum Berlin, 2004, pp. 144-5, cat. 695-6 (chains), 693-4 (rings) and 697, a brooch set with a medal with the same text as the chains and the date 1916. The medal was an alternative to receiving jewellery. It was designed by Hermann Hosaeus (1875-1958), sculptor and medallist working in Berlin from 1896, and cast by the firm of Gladenbeck, Berlin.
The commissions for the various First World War iron jewels and medals were given by the Reichsbank. A gift of 5 marks' worth of gold entitled the giver to a medal. The makers of the watch-chain, Klein & Quenzer, were specialist jewellery and watch-chain manufacturers working in non-precious metals (information kindly supplied by Graham Dry).
Another similar watch-chain is in the Jewish Museum, Berlin, see http://objekte.jmberlin.de/object/jmb-obj-134066;jsessionid=F014BA9B1DAEB07A50366500A539F794
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 2015
- Acquisition notes
- Inherited by donor via his father with the following note: Curt Herrmann gab 1916 seine goldene Uhrkette ab und erheilt diese anstatt.' (Curt Hermann handed in his gold watch-chain and received this instead). The painter Curt Herrmann, was the donor's grandfather.
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- 2015,8045.1