The Order of Poland Restored (Polonia Restituta)

[dastier]

Hi Andrzejku,

Many thanks for post. However, I can not track the pics. Would you please relist them.

Best regards,
Michael

Hi Michael,

I have just checked and the photographs are on the page for all to see.

Best wishes

Andrzejku

I too, cannot view the photographs of Japanese recipients of the Polish Order Polonia Restituta on your post.

[A.J. Zawadzki]

Why do some of the Polish Order Polonia Restituta have a hallmark and others do not?

Hallmarked crosses are typically of private manufacture made of silver.

Regards,
Tony

[A.J. Zawadzki]

Post #24 contains an example of a silver hallmarked Owczarski private purchase cross. Here's another Owczarski 5th Class cross, with the strange feature of having the reverse side disc applied upside down.

[A.J. Zawadzki]

To continue with privately made crosses, here's an unusual example of a 5th Class cross attributed to pre-WW2 manufacture. Details are rather crude in comparison to other pre-war made crosses. The maker is unknown.

Regards,
Tony

[A.J. Zawadzki]

This 5th Class cross is of pre-WW2 French manufacture. Maker unknown, but possible Delande or Bertrand.

[A.J. Zawadzki]

And to close off today's barrage or privately made Polonia Restituta pieces is this beautifully crafted brooch in what appears to be gold. I do not know if it is Polish made, nor from what era. My gut feel suggests British manufacture as it reminds me of the Spink products. While not in an ‘official format’ suspended from a ribbon, the quality of all details are absolutely of the highest caliber. A wonderful item.

Regards,
Tony

[dastier]

This an official state award, correct? Bestowed upon the recipient by the Polish government. Where these contracted out to private manufacturers by the state? Or purchased privately to replace lost ones? I understand that during WW2 the exile government would have to turn to private manufacturers but what about prewar ones such as the French made Delande or Bertrand.

[dastier]

Hallmarked crosses are typically of private manufacture made of silver.

Regards,
Tony

Thanks Tony.

[andrzejku98]

Hi Everyone,

Just another photograph that I thought you might like to see, the date is the 11th May 1934, Warsaw Station the arrival of the new Japanese Military Attache Colonel Masataka Yamawaki who had been awarded both the Virtuti Militari and the OOP.

I hope that you like it:



Best wishes

Andrzejku

[A.J. Zawadzki]

First off, thanks Andrzejku for posting that photo. While we know that the Japanese also had strained relations with the Russians, so to the Poles were ‘the enemy of my enemy and therefore my friend’, in light of WW2 history it’s still a little unsettling to see them on such friendly terms with the Imperial Japanese.

This an official state award, correct? Bestowed upon the recipient by the Polish government

Yes. The introductory post to this thread provides some general information.

Were these contracted out to private manufacturers by the state? Or purchased privately to replace lost ones?

Yes, Wiktor Gontarczyk was the official producer. Other manufacturers also offered crosses, several example of which have been posted earlier (#24, 43, 44).

I understand that during WW2 the exile government would have to turn to private manufacturers but what about prewar ones such as the French made Delande or Bertrand.

There was also a French maker, likely Delande or Bertrand (or perhaps even both) that produced this decoration. One such example claimed to be French, although maker name is unknown, was posted previously (#45).

Regards,
Tony