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    Title

  • Gold for iron : watch chain

  • Physical Description

    1 watch chain : iron ; 11 5/8"x 7/8" (29 cm. x 3 cm.)

  • Date

    1916

  • Summary

    Chain link bracelet with three inscripted metal beads, one: "In Eiserner Zeit 1916", two: "1916 Gold zur Wehr - Eisen zur Ehr".

  • Subject

    World War, 1914-1918

  • Medium

    Fobs; Jewelry; Accessories

  • Part Of

    Ellen Otten Collection, AR 25106

  • Accession Number

  • URL

Biographical/Historical Information

German citizens were called to help finance the war [WW I] by donating money and their gold jewelry. In return, they received symbolic iron jewelry. From 1916 on, a medal was issued with the inscription "in iron times, I gave gold to the military [and] got iron in honor." The family of the owner of this iron jewelry exchanged large parts of the family jewelry and received an iron watch-chain with the same words on it.

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Citation

Gold for iron : watch chain, Leo Baeck Institute, 2006.47.