Austria, Empire. A Medal Of Honour For Catholic Nuns In The Hospital Service 1915, Cased

Frosted silver, dual hallmarked on the edge, obverse illustrating Jesus in the garden kneeing before a winged angel, the angel presenting him a chalice, inscribed in Latin "ADORATIO IMITATIO EXPIATIO AMOR", reverse illustrating Jesus appearing at the left with his Sacred Heart, the Virgin Mary at the right, with a wounded soldier lying below and engraver marked "HANS SCHWATHE XII.1915", 36.5 mm x 50 mm, ornate loop suspension, on a bow-tied original ribbon with pinback, extremely fine. In its hardshelled case of issue, maker marked "BRÜDER-SCHNEIDER / KUK. HOF & ARMEE LIEFERANTEN / METALLWARENFABRIK" on the inside lid, recessed medal bed, soiling evident on the exterior, case very fine.

Footnote: Hans Schwathe (born: May 28, 1870 in Strachwitzthal, Austrian Silesia, died: October 27, 1950 in Vienna, aged 80) was an Austrian sculptor and medalist. He attended the Silesian State College from 1887-1890 for stone processing in Saubsdorf, the specialist school director Eduard Zelenka training him as a stonemason, in the specialized field of marble processing. He then studied until 1898 at the Imperial School of Applied Arts of the Imperial Austrian Museum of Art and Industry in Vienna with Otto King and August Kuehne. Schwathe completed his education for one year on the basis of a work scholarship in Italy. Thanks to mediation by the Director of the Silesian Museum Opava, Edmund Wilhelm Braun, Schwathe received his first major contract, working on the tomb of Dr. Otto Zinsmeister, in 1902.