WWI Austrian Field Pilot Badge

WWI Army Field Pilot (Feldpilot)

Austrian Imperial Pilots Badge

The aviator badges of Emperor Franz Josef I and Kaiser Karl eras were constructed in several pieces. The green oak leaf wreath was separate with the eagle being riveted to the wreath. Usually the portion of the wreath over which the eagle's wings rested were metal, not covered by enamel. The shield and crown were an integral part of the wreath but can be separately attached. The vertical pins are mounted on the reverse of the crown with a curved hook mounted on the reverse of the shield. The badge measures 64mm vertically and 60mm wing tip to wing tip.

Although most badges were flat surfaced this one is of the few that are convex. The most notable characteristic of the badges in this series and the enamneled wreath examples is their extraordinary, jeweler-quality workmanship.

Franz Joseph I., August 1830 – 21 November 1916) was Emperor of Austria, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Bohemia, King of Croatia, King of Galicia and Lodomeria and Grand Duke of Cracow from 1848 until his death in 1916. From 1 May 1850 until 24 August 1866 he was President of the German Confederation.

In December 1848 he ascended the throne and largely considered to be a reactionary, Franz Josef spent his early reign resisting constitutionalism in his domains.

Although Franz Joseph ceded no territory to the Kingdom of Prussia after the Austrian defeat in the Austro-Prussian War, the Peace of Prague (23 August 1866) settled the German question in favor of Prussia, which prevented the unification of Germany under the House of Habsburg (Großdeutsche Lösung)

This dress uniform Austrian pilots badge represents a rare find for the collector of WWI badges. Not only a military badge but a work of jewelry it is offered for $650.00. Any questions regarding availability to josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com Thank you for looking.

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