Gents,

 

This is a Bavarian Fire Department (FW) long service award for 25 years of service. The award was a pinback device on a ribbon and was worn on the Fire Department uniform above the tunic pocket. These FW service awards were worn until 1918 when the were discontinued.

 

This award was followed in Bavaria by another award worn from the end of WWI until it was replaced with a National FW award circa 1936.

 

http://www.worldmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/313658-bavarian-feuerwehr-long-service-award/

I have seen these awards over the years but never really took an interest in them. This award looks like the pin itself is fire-gilded. Years ago I had heard that the Fire-gilding of German badges and items for pickelhaubes was discontinued wither during WWI or early post World War I because the process was very toxic to the people running the operation. The badge is very well preserved considering its age and the history of conflicts it survived. Thanks for posting.