Sweden 18k Gold Enamel 1st Class Knight Of Vasa Royal Order 3 Medal Set Cased
18 KARAT GOLD, WHITE, GREEN AND RED ENAMELS. KNIGHT 1st CLASS BADGE MEDAL. WITH 1 MINIATURE MEDAL & 1 LAPEL MEDAL INCLUDED ACTUAL GOLD CONTENT 18 GRAMS. 4341 AGW (DARKER MINIATURE IS SILVER GILT WITH 18K GOLD CENTER AND RIBBONS NOT WEIGHTED).
THE ENAMELING THROUGHOUT IS INTACT WITH ONLY A COUPLE OF NON-ISSUE SMALL CHIPS AND HAIRLINES. THE ORIGINAL RIBBONS ARE CLEAN, SHINY AND BRIGHT, THE RIBBON OF THE FULL SIZE MEDAL SHOWS SOME WEAR, AND HAS A SAFETY PIN ON THE BACK THAT WAS USED TO ATTACH.
THE LAPEL MEDAL HAS THE ORIGINAL BUTTON ATTACHED. THE SWEDISH CHIVALRIC ROYAL ORDER OF VASA (KUNGLIGA VASAORDEN) WAS INSTITUTED IN 1772 BY KING GUSTAV III. THE ORDER HAD BEEN "DORMANT" SINCE 1974, BUT IN 2023 WAS REACTIVATED, TO BE AGAIN CONFERRED TO SWEDISH CITIZENS. SINCE 2024, 8 PERSONS HAVE BEEN AWARDED VARIOUS DEGREES OF THE ORDER, INCLUDING THE MEMBERS OF THE SWEDISH ROCK GROUP.
THE ORDER WAS/IS AWARDED TO CITIZENS OF SWEDEN AND FOREIGNERS, UNRESTRICTED BY BIRTH AND EDUCATION, IN EFFECT; OPEN TO ANYONE FOR SERVICES TO THE STATE OR SOCIETY FOR MERIT. THIS JUNIOR OF SWEDISH CHIVALRIC ORDERS WAS ESPECIALLY GRANTED TO THOSE WORTHY OF RECOGNITION IN THE AREAS OF ARTS, AGRICULTURE, COMMERCE, CRAFTS, EDUCATION, INDUSTRY, MINING, PUBLIC SERVICE, TECHNICAL PROGRESS, AND TRADE. A KNIGHT FIRST CLASS OF THIS BEAUTIFUL ORDER, THE FOURTH OF FIVE CLASSES, WEARS THE BADGE ON THE LEFT CHEST. KNIGHT 1st CLASS BADGE MEDAL : THE 18 KARAT GOLD BADGE OF THE ORDER IS A WHITE ENAMELED BALL-TIPPED MALTESE CROSS. BETWEEN EACH ARM OF THE CROSS IS A CROWN.
A PIERCED STYLIZED SHEAF OF HAY, THE SYMBOL OF THE VASA DYNASTY, IS FRAMED INSIDE OF A GOLD OVAL WITH RED ENAMELING AT THE CENTER OF THE CROSS. AROUND THE RED ENAMEL IS THE GOLD LETTERED LEGEND + GUSTAV. MDCCLXXII (INSTITUTED BY GUSTAV III, 1772). SWEDISH HALLMARKS ON THE FULL SIZE MEDAL ARE BETWEEN THE INNER EDGES OF THE TWO POINTS OF BOTTOM ARM OF THE CROSS. CARLMAN AND WITH THREE CROWNS WITHIN THE "CAT'S FOOT" SWEDISH CONTROL MARK.
IT IS ALSO STAMPED 18K FOR GOLD. BOTH SIDES OF THE BADGE ARE IDENTICAL. THE CROSS IS SUSPENDED FROM A ROYAL CROWN ON A SWIVEL PIN. THE MEDAL IS ATTACHED TO A THE GREEN SILK MOIRE RIBBON OF THE ORDER.
THE MINIATURE OF THE ORDER IS IDENTICAL TO THE KNIGHT 1st CLASS BADGE, SUSPENDED FROM A GREEN MOIRE RIBBON. THE GOLD OVAL IS NOT PIERCED, BUT A SOLID APPLIQUÉ. THE LAPEL MEDAL IS A SMALLER VERSION OF THE MINIATURE, ALSO SUSPENED FROM A GREEN MOIRE RIBBON (WHICH DIFFERS IN SHADE FROM THE OTHERS), WITH A STURDY BUTTONHOLE BUTTON SHANK ON THE BACK. THE RED PRESENTATION CASE HAS THE MAKER PRINTED IN GOLD ON THE INSIDE OF THE LID. CARLMAN AB, STOCKHOLM, WAS FOUNDED IN 1855, AND HAS BEEN THE SOLE PRODUCER OF SWEDISH ORDERS SINCE 1875.THE FULL SIZE BADGE HANGS 105 mm WITH RIBBON, 85mm FROM SUSPENSION LOOP AT TOP OF CROWN, AND IS 540 MM WIDE. MINIATURE HANGS 50 MM (INCLUDING RIBBON), AND IS 18 mm WIDE. LAPEL MEDAL HANGS 40 mm, AND IS 13 mm WIDE.