WWI U.S. AIR SERVICE PILOT WING, SHREVE CO, STERLING, VINTAGE, ORIGINAL Reserve Military Aviator An uncommon original American-made WWI wing, executed in a Beaux-Arts style perhaps unique to San Francisco. Design wise the base badge is executed in somewhat more naturalistic fashion than many other World War One era badges. The Beaux Arts movement included both Neo-classical and Greco-Roman revivalistic elements. Shreve and Co's wing exhibits two splayed wings on either side of a flared, almost flamboyant shield. Artistically, the Shreve and Co. badge is distinctive and shows influence of the very fancy and stylized designs popular in San Francisco. The badge is quite oversize and among the largest of WW1 sterling wing badges. The very fancy shield is proportionally somewhat evocative of the Union Pacific Railroad shield. The chief contains 13 small raised "stars" atop a field of fine horizontal lines. The field portion consists of alternating raised and relieved vertical columns. The relieved columns are textured with fine vertical lines. The US is die-struck in thin 14k gold using a non-serif gothic font and separately applied to the face of the shield. Weight: 12g The detailed face of the badge is struck in thin stock using the cliche' method. The relatively thin, highly detailed front piece is fused to a thick sterling silver backplate (much the same construction method as a German WW1 aviator's badge). The rear of Shreve and Co. badges will show small "holes" that allow for expanding gasses during the fusing of the front to the back of the badge. Markings: The badge is marked "Shreve CO" and STERLING." Badges have been encountered with the maker's hallmark obliterated and without hallmark--possibly indicating Shreve and Co. engaged in limited wholesale of their badges. Mountings: Note: Somewhat unique jeweler-type replacement findings. The catch has a bench jewelers repair to it. Typical period jeweler repair. These pilots were mighty proud of their wings and if the pin or catch broke, they would get them repaired. This is a legitimate period repair which adds to this wing, and shows it was worn and treasured by the original owner. Background: Associated Airfields: Crissy Field and other Air Service activities at the Presidio of San Francisco. Additionally, Airmen at training at Mather Field in nearby Sacramento would no doubt have spent some time in the "big city." Shreve and Co were founded in San Francisco in the 1880s by George and Samuel Shreve. The two Shreve brothers were related to Benjamin Shreve, founder of Shreve, Crump and Lowe Jewelers in Boston. By the turn of the 20th Century, San Francisco's Shreve and Co. had established itself as one of the nation's finest manufacturers of jewelry rivaled only by the Likes of Tiffany or Bailey Banks and Biddle of the eastern half of the country. SHIPPING: Please contact us prior to making payment so we can discuss your shipping options. Unless we hear from you otherwise, this will be shipped via United Parcel Service, Full insurance, Adult Signature is required. We will not ship this to a Post Office Box. Other shipping options are available. Reference: U.S. Militaria Forum, “cwnorma” Reference: Aviation Badges and Insignia of the United States Army 1913-1946, J. Duncan Campmbell Reference: United States Army Air Service Wing Badges – Uniforms and Insignia, 1913-1918, Terry R. Morris International Buyers Please Note: We do not ship outside of the United States! No Exceptions. In addition, we will not ship to third party shippers or any other international shipping hubs such as International Shipping (EIS), EIS 110 INTERNATIONALE BLVD, GLENDALE HEIGHTS IL 60139-2080, or ACI Express Shipping. No buying agents such as Intercommerce America. No international buyers, no freight forwarding companies, no gift addresses, no non U.S. citizen buyers, and no non U.S. based forms of payment. If you place a bid, or make a purchase, we will cancel your bid, and or cancel your purchase! If you wish to make a purchase, you will have to find someone located within the United States to make the purchase for you. They would be responsible to send the package to you. We do ship to APO and FPO addresses.