Order of the White Eagle, Type I, Civil Division, I Class Breast Star

SKU: 01.SRB.0101.102.01

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  • Order of the White Eagle, Type I, Civil Division, I Class Breast Star Obverse
  • Order of the White Eagle, Type I, Civil Division, I Class Breast Star Obverse
  • Order of the White Eagle, Type I, Civil Division, I Class Breast Star Obverse Reverse

Attributes

  • country
    Serbia
  • date of institution
    February 22, 1882
  • makers
    Rothe & Neffe, Vienna; G.A. Scheid, Vienna; Karl Fleischhacker, Vienna; Anton Furst, Vienna; Jacob Lester, Bavaria
  • remarks
    The Rothe & Neffe workshop was the first studio to produce the Order of the White Eagle. The studio was the main manufacturer during the Obrenovich dynasty, and its pieces were commonly marked with the manufacturer's FR mark. Years later, Karl Fleischhacker, Anton Furst and Jacob Lester became manufacturers of this Order as well. The pieces manufactured during this time were made strictly under the indication of the law. It is a high scarce decoration.

History


The Order of the White Eagle was introduced by King Milan I on January 23, 1883 (Russian method of dating) to commemorate the restoration of the kingdom of Serbia, proclaimed on February 22, 1882 in Belgrade. The Order was designed by historian Stojan Novakovich, who combined two medieval royal symbols of Serbia: the double-headed white eagle (1309-19) and the red escutcheon with the white cross (1402).

The Order was established with five classes awarded in recognition of "services rendered to the King, the Royal Household, and the State in all branches of the national administration or public life." Starting in Class V, this Order was awarded by classes, recipients should remain in a specific class at least two years before the next class could be awarded. It was conferred to military personnel as well as civilians, and to nationals and foreigners alike. In 1915, the decorations with swords were added to honor Officers of the Serbian Army for merits in the battle field. The Order had no motto.

The Serbian system of decoration was completely reorganized by Peter I Karageorgevich once he assumed the throne following the May Coup of 1903. By then, the reverse medallion of the Order was modified. In 1941, the Order was dissolved along with the capitulation of the Yugoslav Kingdom.

In Medalbook, this order is classified into three types. Type I contains the civil awards granted before 1903, and Type II consists of the civil awards granted afterwards. Type III presents the insignia with sword, introduced since 1915.

In Type I, during the period of the Obrenovich Dynasty (1883-1903), the number of holders was limited. According to the law, excluding the royal family a total of 520 persons could be decorate with this Order: I Class was limited to 10 persons, II Class was limited to 20, III Class was limited to 40 , IV Class was limited to 150, and V Class was limited to 300. Correspondingly, the pieces from this period are very rare.

In Order of precedence, the Order of the White Eagle was the highest Serbian order during the reign of Milan I. The I and II Class were placed even before the Order of Takovo I Class with Swords.

This Order featured the royal cipher of Milan I "MI" on the reverse of the eagle. Over this period, the Order was manufactured in Viennese workshops mainly, including Rothe & Neffe, G.A. Scheid, Karl Fleischhacker, and Anton Furst, among others. These badges were manufactured entirely according to the specification of the law.

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Versions

  • Price

    $4500 USD

  • Composition

    Silver gilt/Enamelled

  • Inscription

  • Size

    86mm

  • Maker

  • Version Remarks

    A scarce award

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