Sweden, Kingdom. An Order of the North Star, Commander Grand Cross Collar Chain & Star, c.1890
(Kungliga Nordstjärneorden). Instituted in 1748. Collar Chain with a multi-link chain in silver gilt and housing twenty-two icons, consisting of eleven 36.5 mm (w) x 49.5 mm (h) crowned cyphers of King Frederick I of Sweden in silver gilt and blue enamels, each with ornate swirls above and below the cypher, with rings at the four exterior points of the swirls for attachment to the chain, along with eleven 37.3 mm (w) x 34.5 mm (h) stars in silver gilt and white enamels, each with ornate swirls above and below the star, with rings at the four exterior points of the swirls for attachment to the chain, one of the cyphers with a hook on its reverse for the suspension of a collar badge, which is not included here, two large hooks affixed to the cypher icon on the right end of the chain for placement on the two loops affixed to the star icon on the left end of the chain, which will appear behind the wearer's neck, all of the pieces on the chain are unmarked, the chain measuring approximately 1,150 mm in length, with intact enamels, extremely fine.
Accompanied by a Grand Cross Breast Star, with a two-piece construction, in silver, with brilliante cross arms, ball finials on all eight points on the arms, hallmarked on the pin and catch with a swan denoting French import used until 1893, measuring 73.5 mm (w) x 73 mm (h), vertical pinback. Together, extremely fine.
Footnote: The Order of the North Star (AKA Order of the Polar Star) is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I on February 23, 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim. Until 1975, it was intended as a reward for Swedish and foreign "civic merits, for devotion to duty, for science, literary, learned and useful works and for new and beneficial institutions". Its motto is, as seen on the blue enameled centre of the badge, "Nescit Occasum", a Latin phrase meaning "It knows no decline". This is to represent that Sweden is as constant as a never setting star. The Order's colour is black. This was chosen so that when wearing the black sash, the white, blue and golden cross would stand out and shine as the light of enlightenment from the black surface. The choice of black for the Order's ribbon may also have been inspired by the black ribbon of the French Order of St. Michael, which at the time that the Swedish order was instituted, was also awarded to meritorious civil servants. After the reorganization of the orders in 1975, the order is only awarded to foreigners and members of the royal family. It is often awarded to foreign office holders (such as prime and senior ministers) during Swedish state visits. It is also awarded to junior members of royal families who would not qualify for the more prestigious Royal Order of the Seraphim. It is awarded in five classes: Commander Grand Cross (KmstkNO: the badge on a collar (chain) or on a sash on the right shoulder, plus the star on the left chest); Commander 1st Class (KNO1kl, the badge on a necklet, plus the star on the left chest), Commander (KNO, the badge on a necklet), Knight 1st Class (RNO1kl/LNO1kl, the badge on a ribbon on the left chest) and Knight (RNO/LNO, the badge on a ribbon on the left chest).