ORDER OF THE POLAR STAR - OFFICIAL COLLAR CHAIN.
Collar chain features gilded bronze and enameled construction and comes in the original octagonal presentation with gold embossed maker mark to the Court Jeweler C. F. Carlman, Stockholm. Collar chain originates from the 2nd half of the 19th century.
The collar chain consists of 22 links featuring the Polar Star and the blue enameled double sided cypher; "F" for the order's founder, King Friedrich I.
This collar chain is an official, awarded specimen and is of particularly fine jeweler quality. The center link features a hook for attaching the Grand Cross.
Exterior of case is covered in black leather and features dark red velvet interior lining. The interior cover features superb manufacturer's label of the Court Jeweler, Carlman in Stockholm.
The Royal North Star order (Swedish Kungliga League North Star Order) is the second highest order of merit of the kingdom of Sweden. The order was instituted on 28 April 1748 by king Frederick I an his his 72nd. birthday and was previously also referred to as the Black Band.
The Order of the North Star was initially awarded as a civil merit order for outstanding civic merits, loyal services to the state and Royal House as well as cultural, scientific and technical achievements to domestic and foreign nationals.
The order was reformed in 1975 and was then restricted to foreigners and stateless persons that have personally worked for Sweden and Swedish interests. To prevent the order from being awarded by a Head of State who is not a member of the order, the members of the Swedish Royal House received the order in 1995.
The insignia on the order had to be returned after the death of the recipient.
One of the very few privately owned specimen of this official collar chain and of great rarity and jeweler quality.
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