Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe

Institution, Purpose & Award Practice

• Year of institution: 1940; intended for flying personnel (fighters, bombers, reconnaissance, night fighters, coastal/sea, transport, etc.).
• Award criterion: “Special achievement in the air war” – outstanding single actions, leadership, or repeated distinction.
• Papers: Award document; many goblets bear a personal engraving (name, rank, sometimes date/unit).
• Numbers: Figures in the literature vary; research indicates substantial totals, and not every awardee received a physical goblet, especially late war.

Construction & Design

• Form: Chalice-shaped cup with foot (two-/three-piece assembly), approx. 20–21 cm tall.
• Obverse: Luftwaffe eagle above the circumscription “Für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg” with oak-leaf decoration.
• Fields: Smooth areas suitable for engraving (foot rim or body, position varies by piece).
• Finish: High-relief details with clean transitions; interior surfaces often finely matte.

Materials & Makers

• Early production: Fine silver (e.g., “835”, “Feinsilber”, silver hallmarks) – characteristic patina and lustre.
• Later production: Alpaca/Nickel silver (often silver-plated) due to material shortages; hallmarking may be sparse or absent.
• Makers: Several renowned art-metal workshops; marks are typically found to the base (maker’s cartouche, fineness marks, national silver marks where applicable).

Engravings, Cases & Accompaniments

• Engraving: Period hand-engraving (tool cuts, letter forms) preferred; laser/rotary signatures are red flags.
• Accompaniments: Award document, cover letters; standardized fitted cases are seldom documented—transport/protection varied.

Authenticity – What to Watch

• Cast surfaces: Gas porosity, soft detail and mushy edges suggest aftercast; originals show crisp relief and sharp inner corners.
• Fantasy or fresh hallmarks: Illogical fineness marks or brand-new punches on otherwise “aged” metal.
• Inconsistent engraving: Modern typography, odd placement, wording that does not match papers; engraving must fit the dossier.
• Patina & weight: Fine silver ages differently than plated alpaca; artificial toning (sulfur/lacquer) is detectable.
• Provenance: A continuous paper trail (document, photos, correspondence) is a major plus.

Collector Value – Key Drivers

• Material & condition: Early fine-silver examples with attractive patina are especially coveted; dents, harsh polishing or over-cleaning detract.
• Personalization: Named goblets to notable airmen/units, dated and documented, command strong premiums.
• Completeness: Goblet plus document/photos/letters = significant value uplift.

Note

Content is provided for historical and documentary purposes only. Please observe your local laws on the depiction and trade of period symbols.