Germany Awards - Embroidered Breast Star to Big Cross

The breast star depicted here was granted in the initial period of the existence of the order. The order sign of the Grand Cross has always included the corresponding breast star. It is believed that in the first 20 years, as a rule, embroidered stars were awarded. A breast star was worn in the middle of the left chest. Massive silver stars were then awarded from the middle of the 19th century. The order was established by the Dukes Henry of Anhalt-Kötensky (1830-1847), Leopold Friedrich of Anhalt-Dessau (1817-1871) and Alexander Karl of Anhalt-Bernburg (1834-1863). As it was said, the order was awarded for loyalty and devotion, talents and legitimate official activities. The classes of the order were originally: a large cross, commander, knight, gold and silver medals for merit. Early embroidered stars were also subject to return upon the leper's death. Often returned embroidered thoracic stars were labeled as unusable. The stars were produced in Dessau by an animal from the Caroline Bretting pose. Since 1847, Wilhelmina Kaulitz, who later married Stoye, took up star embroidery. The cost was 8 Reichstalers, taking into account the material. In Anhalt, silver stars were issued from the very beginning. The manufacturer Rosenthal from Berlin at the beginning of 1837 put seven stars at a price of 56 Reichstalers. These stars have a shiny body and deviate from later thoracic stars. These breast stars were awarded to the founders of the order and the princes of the ruling prince on March 18, 1837. Источник: Gerd Scharfenberg, Die Orden und Ehrenzeichen der Anhaltischen Staaten 1811 - 1935, 1999.

An eight-pointed embroidered breast star made of silver mane and colored wool. There are 2 shortened intermediate beams between 8 main beams. On the rays and silver lines between them are small ears for sewing. The back side is reinforced with cardboard and smooth.

Front side:

• Embroidered medallion with double silver, embossed rim.
• The dark green ring inside is also delineated by a double edge.
• On it in Silberlahn rises the motto of the order: - FEAR - GOD - AND - FOLLOWING - HIS - COMMAND -.
In
• the surrounded field, a wall with three teeth and a silver gate is embroidered in red.
• He is wearing a black bear walking to the right with a gold crown and collar.
• The background is white with oblique silver lines.

Downside:

• Smooth cardboard coating adapted to rays.

Photo: Private collection of Maximilian Ferdinand Leopold Prince of Anhalt

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