Imperial German Officer Portrait Brooch with Gilded Filigree Frame

This compact Imperial-era brooch features an original period photograph of a German officer in full dress uniform, mounted within an ornate gilt metal frame measuring approximately 1.5 inches across. The portrait shows a confident, mustachioed officer wearing a high-standing collar with dual piping and a buttoned front, typical of pre-1914 Prussian line-officer attire. His cap displays a clear national cockade above the band, reinforcing the early-war or pre-war dating of the image. The sepia photograph remains well preserved, retaining sharp facial details and uniform features beneath its slightly domed protective cover.

The frame itself is crafted in a decorative filigree style popular in civilian keepsake jewelry of the Kaiserzeit. Small curled wire accents surround the perimeter, anchored by delicate ball terminals at regular intervals. A single red gemstone—likely glass, ruby-colored, and faceted—sits prominently at the top in a bezel setting, a design element seen in sweetheart jewelry and personal remembrance pieces from the 1890–1918 period. The reverse displays a simple gilded backplate with a lightly struck “G” hallmark and an early safety-style horizontal pin, consistent with Continental jewelry fittings of the time.

Pieces of this nature held deep sentimental value, usually commissioned to honor a husband, fiancé, or son serving in the Imperial Army. They were often worn by family members on civilian clothing rather than military uniforms. Surviving examples vary widely in quality; this brooch stands out due to its intact glass cover, clean photograph, and attractive, handmade filigree work. Its aesthetic and construction firmly place it within the pre-WWI to early-WWI era, making it a meaningful and personal artifact of a soldier’s service.

Condition is good for its age, with stable gilding, light wear on the reverse, and a fully functional pin. The gemstone remains firmly seated, and all decorative filigree elements appear original. The photograph shows minor surface marks under the glass but no major loss of detail.