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

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 jeweller, Stockholm.

The letters R1 S.O. (riddare I klass Svärdsorden) indicates “Knight I class Order of the Sword” The crown suspension was used from ca 1870-80 until ca 1910-20.