|
White enamel ball-tipped Maltese cross with silver gilt Swedish crowns between the arms, on swivel crown suspension; the face with an oval central medallion bearing a gold 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; height 25.95mm (1.02 inches), width 17.8mm (0.7 inch); on original faded ribbon. The Order of Vasa was instituted on 29 May 1772 to reward achievement in a number of fields then coming to prominence and importance, such as agriculture, technology and commerce. The order has not been presented since 1974. This rare miniature was intended to be worn on formal occasions with evening dress. It is of very high quality and some age and our best judgement is that is dates from about the 1920s.
|
