Norway – Kingdom. A Royal Order of St. Olav (Commander’s star M1871)

Description

The Order was instituted on 21 August 1847 by King Oscar I of Sweden and Norway as a specifically Norwegian order, named for King Olav II (Saint Olav), patron saint of Norway (995-1030, reigned 1015-1028) and to be awarded ‘for distinguished services rendered to the country and mankind’.

A fine ball-tipped Maltese Cross in diamond-cut silver, quadrants adorned by crowned cyphers “O” for Oscar I in silver gilt, with obverse centerpiece in Gold featuring a superposed royal Norwegian lion on a finely enameled red background, encircled by a blue and white enamel ring, as well as a gold outsider ornamented border, the reverse with vertical pin assembly.

Made by the court jeweler Carl. F. Carlman.