Sweden – Royal Order of Vasa, knight I class, second type, ca 1860

Description

The Order of Vasa was instituted by King Gustaf III on 29 May 1772 to reward achievement in a number of fields then coming to prominence and importance, such as agriculture, technology and commerce.  

White enamel ball-tipped Maltese cross with silver Swedish crowns between the arms, on crown suspension; the face with an oval central medallion bearing a silver gilt crowned sheaf, emblem of the Vasa dynasty, encircled by a red enamel ring inscribed in gilt characters “GUST. D. III INST. MDCCLXXII” (Gustaf III instituted 1772); the reverse identical to the face. On original ribbon and in original fitted case of issue by C.F. Carlman, court jeweler, Stockholm. The case with this type of makers mark inside the lid is very rare. Worn with some color flakes missing on the edges.

Some hair thin cracks and a very small chip missing on the upper arm, beneath the crown.