Lot 893

KULM IRON CROSS OF 1813

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KULM IRON CROSS OF 1813

Estimate: $1,000 - $1,500

Starting Bid: $500

(0 Bids)

by Alexander Historical Auctions LLC
July 31, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
106 East Main Street, Suite 103
Elkton, MD, US 21921

KULM IRON CROSS OF 1813
This excessively rare version of the Iron Cross was produced three years after the initial institution of the Iron Cross in 1813, a Russian-made award known as the Kulm Cross. This example, 40 mm. x 40 mm., is made of a thin magnetic tin plate fashioned in the shape and size of a typical Iron Cross with a painted black center and a gray painted border, all painted areas show an age old grazing to the painted surfaces, the uniform grazing continuance progressing from each of the two tones in both directions, indicating that the applied enamels are of the same vintage. All eight corners of the cross fashioned with two small holes for sewing to a uniform, or in this case, to a circular black ribbed-ribbon backing that is approximately 60mm. diameter. This cross was construed and issued with the purpose of honoring the bravery of Russian Guards units consisting of 14,000 men, and Commanded by Count Ostermann-Tolstoy, as they fought against the French under against the French under General Vandamme, during the Battle of Kulm, August 29-30, 1813. The allied armies had been in retreat after a disastrous defeat at Dresden in mid August, and the gallantry of the Russian troops under Ostermann-Tolstoy was instrumental in the defeat of the pursuing French at Kulm. There, holding General Vandamme's larger French corps at bay with great cost to his own Russian guards in casualties until reinforcements arrived in the form of Russian and Austrian troops, as well as the Prussian corps led by General Kleist. This led to Vandamme's capture and defeat. The King decided to reward the bravery of the Russians by awarding them this special version of the Iron Cross, although, for some unknown reason, three years was to elapse before the official awards were made. It is unknown how many of these were issued. Available here is an almost impossible to obtain example. Authentication with one hundred percent certainty can only be achieved by scientific analysis of the materials used in the construction of this piece, which is very expensive. This piece has been examined by the top two Iron Cross authorities in the world, without a solid conclusion being made one way or the other. Although no glaring abnormalities were determined to be present. Therefore this piece is priced accordingly and SOLD AS IS.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000