Original Item. Only One Available. This is a very attractive German Deutsches Reiterabzeichen, or German Horseman’s/Rider’s Badge, 2nd Class in Silver, manufactured by L. Chr. Lauer of Nürnberg-Berlin. The badge retains a pleasing amount of its original silvered finish, now naturally toned with age, and displays the particularly attractive openwork horse-and-rider design associated with German equestrian qualification awards of the 1930s and WWII period.

The German Rider’s Badge was instituted on April 9, 1930, by the Reichsverband für Zucht und Prüfung deutschen Warmbluts e.V. (Reich Association for the Breeding and Testing of German Warmbloods). It was intended to certify a recognized degree of competence and knowledge in riding and horse care. The badge existed in Bronze, Silver, and Gold classes, and examples continued to be awarded during the Third Reich period through the end of WWII.

The obverse is constructed in the familiar vertically oval, pierced form, consisting of an oak leaf wreath surrounding a rider mounted on a jumping horse. At the base is the circular belt-form emblem containing the letter “R”, for Reiter (Rider). The horse and rider are nicely detailed in relief, with the open areas behind the figure giving the badge considerable visual depth. The silvered surface has developed a patina, while the raised areas retain brighter highlights that bring out the details.

Based upon the remaining silver-colored finish and construction, this appears to be the 2nd Class, or Silver Grade, most likely manufactured from silvered non-ferrous metal rather than solid silver. Period Silver Grade examples are documented in both silvered base-metal and solid-silver construction; solid silver Lauer examples are generally encountered with a silver fineness mark such as “990.” No such hallmark is visible on this example.

The semi-hollow reverse is particularly nice and retains its original broad pin, hinge, and catch assembly. Raised lettering around the reverse wreath reads:

L. CHR. LAUER NÜRNBERG-BERLIN

with the opposite side marked:

GESETZLICH GESCHÜTZT

which translates approximately as “Legally Protected” or “Registered/Protected Design.”

It is worth noting that the Deutsches Reiterabzeichen was fundamentally an equestrian proficiency and sporting award rather than a military combat decoration. Nevertheless, qualified members of the German armed forces could and did earn and wear such badges, making surviving wartime examples of considerable interest to both German sporting-award and military collectors.