FASTFRAME of Lakeville - Expert Custom Picture Framing

Examples & Ideas

The Blue Max

Rare objects are not strangers at FASTFRAME of Lakeville. But once in a while something really special comes along. We had the pleasure of framing Franz Büchner’s original Pour le Mérite, otherwise known as “The Blue Max”, now owned by a local Lakeville resident. For those unfamiliar with this award, it was the highest military honor bestowed by the Prussian Empire (Germany) between 1740 and the end of World War I. Membership in the order was exclusive to an extreme and recipients were required to wear their medal whenever they were in uniform. So originals, especially in the condition of this one, are precious indeed. Buchner, one of the top fighter pilots of World War I, was awarded his Blue Max by Kaiser Wilhelm II on October 25, 1918, 3 days after his 40th air victory. Büchner survived the Great War but died a year and a half later when he crashed near Leipzig making a reconnaissance flight against communist revolutionaries. Lieutenant Büchner’s award is now housed in a frame reminiscent of the time period of its issue, accented in colors reflecting the uniforms he wore, and with materials and techniques insuring the long-term preservation of this historic artifact.

To view a larger image of The Blue Max, click the image or click here.

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