Orders of the Lion and Sun made by Gustave Wolfers, Brussels

"The jeweller Gustave Wolfers in Brussels began to make orders of very good quality around 1880. He made all Belgian Orders. One finds his name also on the stars of many foreign Orders including those of Portugal. However, he did not make any of these Orders; he rather purchased them from Rothe in Vienna and Arthus Bertrand & Beranger in Paris. Address: 35 rue de la Madeleine. Shortly after 1900 the name changed to "G. Wolfers & Fils." The firm remained in the family until about 1980."​

Source: Antonio M. Trigueiros and Gustav A. Tammann (1997) The three Portugese military orders of knighthood, 1789-1910: The Order of Christ, the Order of Avis, and the Order of Santiago: a guide for collectors.​

Unfortunately this short paragraph from the Trigueiros and Tammann book is full of mistakes.

Wolfers firm was established around 1840 and changed its name to "G. Wolfers et Fils" ("G. Wolfers&Sons" - Guilaume and Gustave) around 1870. In 1888 the name of the firm was changed once again to "Gustave Wolfers". Since 1930 and until 1960 the firm was known as "Maison Gustave Wolfers S.A.". After 1960 it changed its name to "Ancienne Maison G. Wolfers". Firm ceased to exist in 1975.

5th class order.

Silver, gilt, enamel.
Size 60 mm.

Cartouche reads: Gustave Wolfers Bijoutier, Rue de la Madeleine 35, Bruxelles.

 

1st class set.

Sash badge.
Silver, enamel.
Size 86 x 71 mm.

Breast star.
Silver, enamel.
Size 87 mm.

Breast star pin was lost.

 

Silver, enamel.
Size 59.02 mm.

No. 35 rue de la Madeleine, Brussels.

 

4th class order.

Silver, enamel.

 

Iconography variation.

 

4th class order with a different variant of iconography.

Silver, enamel.

 

5th class order with a similar iconography.

Silver, enamel.

 

Comparative iconography.

 

4th class order with a slightly different variant of iconography.

Silver, enamel.
Size 58 mm.

 

4th class order.

Silver, enamel.

 

Comparative iconography.

 

4th class order with yet another variation of iconography.

Silver, enamel.

 

2nd class order of the Lion and Sun breast star made by Wolfers.

Silver, enamel.
Size 72 mm.

Interesting "pink" variation of the medallion.

 

3rd class badge made by Wolfers workshop.

Silver, enamel.

 

3rd class order of different iconography made by Wolfers workshop.

Silver, enamel.

 

Cased 3rd class order made by Wolfers workshop.

Silver, enamel
Size 82 x 74 mm.

 

Interesting promotional postcard for the 1962 film Die Fledermaus (German diː ˈfleːdɐˌmaʊs; The Flittermouse or The Bat, sometimes called The Revenge of the Bat) - an adaptation of the operetta Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss, shot in Austria. The color film produced by Sascha-Film in Eastmancolor and Ultrascope premiered on February 2, 1962. Peter Alexander and Marianne Koch were casted as the married couple Gabriel and Rosalinde Eisenstein, Marika Rökk as the maid Adele, Willy Millowitsch as the prison director Frank, Gunther Philipp as Pista von Bundassy, Boy Gobert as Prince Orlofsky and Hans Moser as the court clerk Frosch.

It looks like Boy Gobert /as Prince Orlofsky/ is wearing Wolfers-made 3rd class order of the Lion and Sun. Note that two rays have losses.

Color version of the still.

Full original version of the movie.

 

3rd class order made by Wolfers workshop.

Silver, enamel
Size 82 x 74 mm.

Case order under a different light.

 

2nd class breast star with a stars made by Wolfers with a practically identical iconography to the previous 3rd class order.

Silver, enamel.
Size 75 mm.

 

Comparative iconography.