Sweden – Order of the Sword, I class knights badge

Description

The order of the sword was instituted on 23 February 1748 and was created by King Fredrik I. It is a purely military order. It could be awarded during war but was mostly awarded as a merit order for military personnel.

This particular badge is actually a knight’s badge and not a commander’s badge although it looks like a commander’s badge and is probably French made.

The badge is a privately made but the producer probably got a picture of a commander’s badge and did not know that on a knight’s badge only the upper swords are visible. The badge is in unique in that sense. Made of gilt silver with a bouton on ribbon which Swedish order did not use, typically for French orders to indicate the class.