Imperial German Flyers Honour Goblet With Citation & More

Undoubtedly one of the best Imperial German flyers Honour Goblet groups available in the market place.  The Honour Goblet was awarded to the flyer, Gefreiten Schuh, in 1917. 

The group consists of the iron Honour goblet, with its four ball feet, and intricate pnale of two eagles fighting in the air. To the base of the goblet is the stamp, 'Chef der Feldflugwesens', with Prussian crowned eagle to the centre. The award citation is on parchment, and confirms the goblet was awarded cto Gefreiten Schuhu on 27th August 1917. The citation bears the red seal, the corresponding ink stamp, and the ink signature of Generalleutnant von Hoeppner. The citation is still contained in its original wood issue frame. There is also a Gedenkblatt citation dated 17th October 1918, and signed by Von Stein. This is typically in its black ebony mourning frame. There is also a photograph of Gefreiten Schuh in flying uniform. This is contained within a period black ebony oval mourning frame. Lastly (and this was probably added to the group by a collector at a later point), there is a photograph of Generalleutnant von Hoeppner, the man that set up the Luftstreitkrafte.

Condition report: The goblet remaining in very good toards excellent condition, free from dents or damage, and with an attractive aged patina. The citation and Gedekblatt are in excellent condition, and the frames remain in good general order (neither have ever been opened up). The framed photograph is in good clean condition, although the frame has a couple of old breakages (still in one piece). The photograph of Von Hoeppner remains in excellent condition.

Provenance: The grouping was acquired in the 1950s at an estate sale within the USA. We are left to wonder if the family of the airman moved to the USA at some point, or was this grouping taken as war booty after the First World War, or Second World War. A provenance document stating when the grouping was acquired, and the fact the same collector that acquired the group in the 1950s still owned it until 2023 forms a part of the sale.