Croatia, Independent State. An Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir, Grand Cross, by Braća Knaus, c.1942

(Red krune kralja Zvonimira). Instituted in 1941. Grand Cross Badge: in bronze gilt with white enamels, unmarked but known to have been manufactured by Braća Knaus of Zagreb, consisting of a stylized Croatian Trefoil cross, featuring an inlaid traditional national wattle pattern, (known as the pleter or troplet), obverse centre illustrating the Crown of Zvonimir with crossed swords, reverse inscribed with the dates "1076" (Date of King Zvonimir's Coronation) and "1941" (Date of the establishment of the NDH), flanking the motto "BOG I HRVATI" (God and the Croats), with elongated neck loop also featuring the wattle pattern, measuring 59.7 mm (w) x 60.3 mm (h), scattered gilt wear, scratches evident on the reverse of the arm at 9 o'clock, otherwise the enamels are intact, on its original full-length sash; and Breast Star: cross in bronze gilt with white enamels, consisting of a stylized Croatian Trefoil cross, featuring an inlaid traditional national wattle pattern, (known as the pleter or troplet), the centre illustrating the Crown of Zvonimir with crossed swords, the cross mounted to an eight-pointed silver star base via two rivets, each star point with seven emanating rays, silver hallmarked with a rooster (pre-1943 mark) with an "X" above and a "2" below within a hexagon, maker marked "BK" (Braća Knaus, Zagreb) and NDH state hallmarked on the reverse of the star and on the pin, measuring 94 mm (w) x 96.3 mm (h), horizontal pinback, intact enamels. Extremely fine.

Footnote: The Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir was order awarded by the Independent State of Croatia (NDH). It is established as a "visible sign of decoration for merits done, in peace or in war, for Croatian people and Independent State of Croatia". It was established by Croatian leader Ante Pavelić on May 15, 1941. The bearers of the grand order and first class order were given the title of knight (vitez). The obverse is inscribed "Bog i Hrvati" (God and Croats), while the reverse is inscribed with the year of King Zvonimir's crowning, "1076" and the year of the establishment of the NDH, "1941".