85 Austrian Imperial Order of Saint Joseph of Castle Friedberg.

Commander's Neck Badge features gold and enamel.

The order's motto: "VIRTUTIS AVITAE AEMULI" in hand painted white letters on blue enameled background. The suspension ring features the finest multi-dimensional crafted laurel leaves.  

Magnificant example of the finest goldsmith quality from the end of the 18th Century. A description and picture of this piece appears in the Austrian Orders Hand Book by Baron Prochazka, large edition, Volume I, Munich 1979. 

This award was to recognize the members of the Noble Ganerbschaft of the Reichsburg Friedberg (Hessen). It was institutet  on 6.11.1768. by Kaiser Joseph II as a "Sign of Grace" to these knights. In 1807, Bavarian recipients of this order were forbidden from wearing this decoration. However, in 1815 at the Congress of Vienna, with "Reichsburggrafschaft" dissolved it ceased to exist.

From the few examples of this order originally awarded, only two originals still exist

Important and extremely interesting decoration reflecting the highest craftsmanship and goldsmith quality.    

The other almost similar example auctioned by us a few years ago is illustrated and described in Karsten Klingbeil's "Orden 1700 - 2000", Volume  IV, page. 297, illustration number 3474.      

                

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