WWI Iron Cross Commemorative Brooch with 1914–1916 Scroll Motif

This small jeweler-made brooch is crafted from a gilt metal base with a sharply defined central Iron Cross motif rendered in black enamel and bordered by beaded edging. The cross is flanked on each side by applied silvered oak-leaf clusters, a symbolic nod to victory and endurance frequently found in privately purchased remembrance jewelry of the First World War. The backing plate is shaped as a draped scroll with raised pleats, terminating in the engraved dates 1914 and 1916 at opposite ends. These dates typically reflect a soldier’s period of active service or mark key wartime experiences (enlistment, first combat, wounding, or early awards). The reverse displays a textured field with a simple horizontal pin and soldered hinge and catch consistent with period workshop manufacture.

During and after the Great War, many soldiers—and their families—commissioned small commemorative brooches to reflect personal service, patriotic sentiment, or pride in having earned the Iron Cross. While not an official decoration, such pieces are firmly rooted in the culture of wartime jewelry, particularly among veterans returning home in 1916–1918. The use of fine oak-leaves and a crisp, beveled Iron Cross suggests a jeweler who specialized in patriotic miniatures, and the two-tone metalwork—gilt base with silvered embellishments—mirrors contemporary lapel-worn remembrance pins favored by both officers and NCOs.

Collectors value these unique brooches for their craftsmanship and for the glimpse they provide into the private, personal side of Imperial German militaria. The combination of scroll form, applied oak-leaves, and a cleanly executed Iron Cross miniature makes this a distinctive example, and the uncommon 1914–1916 dual-date format increases its appeal.

The brooch remains in sound condition for its age. Gilding shows softened, time-earned patina; the oak-leaf appliqués retain their silvered tone; the enamel of the cross appears intact with only minor age toning. The reverse exhibits expected wear and oxidation from more than a century of handling, and the pin assembly remains functional.