VI Meeting of the european phaleristic societies 21st – 23th September 2012, Brussels – Belgium Organised by SKF (Studiekring Faleristiek vzw)
With the support of Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History And the Royal Library of Belgium
The VI Meeting was undoubtly a success not only due to an impeccable organisation, the program and the number of participants from other countries, but above all to the warm hospitality of our Belgian friends.
The visit to the exhibition and conferences held at the Mint Department of the Royal Library of Belgium were indeed a high point of the program. It started with a presentation by Dr. J. Van Heesch of the Cabinet of Medals and their enormous and valuable Numismatic collection, which includes in the traditional outlook, not only coins, but also medals and phaleristic pieces, specially a rich collection of Order’s insignia. Reference must be also made to the Cabinet’s rich specialised library.
The first conference made by Colonel Eric Tripnaux on the “Wettin collars of Kings Leopold” was extremely interesting, lively delivered with a high scholar standard, by this reputed phalerist and specialist on the Order of Leopold I and illustrated by a power point presentation. The theme, unknown to most participants, is fascinating and sheds light to the practices in the field of awarding of decorations – the Saxe-Ernestine House Order – held by the Heads of the various lines of the Family of the Dukes of Saxony (Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Saxe-Altenburg and Saxe-Meiningen) which were a branch of the ancient and once powerful princely Wettin Family.
The lecture was illustrated with pictures of the very rare Collar of this Order and of those of the orders created both by King Leopold I and King Leopold II.
The second lecture was on «British awards for meritorious services during WWII to Belgians» by Peter Verstraeten and Jean-Marie Van Wijnsberghe, also enriched by abundant illustration, in a power point presentation. This lecture was certainly particularly appreciated by the numerous members of the British delegation and by all those with a special interest in miliatary medals and decorations of WWII.
The lunch took place at a traditional café – La Fleur en Papier Doré – founded in 1944, by Gérard van Bruaene, a marchand d’art, where artists of the Cobra surrealist mouvement, poets and writers used to meet. With a unique atmosphere, decorated with a variety of objects, photos and texts of famous visitors like Hergé, Jean Brusselmans, Magritte, Guido Gezelle, Jan Cox, and of the owner – Gérard van Bruaene.
It was followed by a guided visit to the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History, another high point of the Meeting mainly for those who had never been there. The Museum is really spectacular, both in its monumental scale and in the size, variety and richness of its Militaria collections, which includes not only uniforms and weaponry, but combat cars, tanks, heavy artillery, airplanes, helicopters and ships both from WWI and WWII.
Phaleristics is also widely present in the Museum collections, whether in display cases – namely, those dedicated to the military medals and decorations awarded by several nations in WWI – or, pinned in the numerous uniforms displayed, depicted in a huge collection of portrait paintings of military officers, in sculptures or pending from the Colours of extinguished Regiments or military units which are deposited in the Museum. It is a unique Museum of its kind and a must to visit.
The traditional Gala diner took place at the “Club Royal des Officiers du Régiment des Guides” in a pleasant and distinguisehd atmosphere, giving an opportunity for participants to socialize, discuss and exchange views on matters of common interest and make new friends.
The final event was the Exchange Bourse which took place at the AB Café-Resto, with a small exhibition of the order of Leopold II and a selection of decorations and Medal Groups of the collections of some SKF members, followed by a buffet-lunch.
The Bourse with a wide and varied offer was an opportunity to acquire or exchange medals, decorations, insignia of orders and also books.
Our Academy was present at the Bourse with a stand offering numbers 1-5 of our Bulletin «Pro Phalaris», books on orders, and a small selection of medals and decorations.
Our friends from the SKF (Studiekring Faleristiek vzw) deserve our applause and warmest thanks for the sucess of this Meeting and for the sympathy and hospitality with which they received us.
They have published in their website a selection of photographs of the various events of the VI Meeting.
More…