German Awards - Home Order of Vigilance/From the Grand Cross of the White Falcon

The Order of Vigilance or the White Falcon was established by Duke Ernst Augustus on August 2, 1732. Until 1815, the order was one-class. Grand Duke Charles Augustus resumed the order on October 18, 1815 (the date of the battle of the peoples near Leipzig). The order now had 3 classes: Grand Cross, Commander and Knight. Large crosses were limited to 12. Apart from the Grand Duke and Princes at home. A prerequisite for awarding the Grand Cross was the title of full Privy Councilor or Major General. Signs of the order were subject to return after death. Prior to the founding of swords in 1870, the Order of Civil and Military Merit was awarded without swords. For members of the ruling houses (principalities), large versions of the Grand Cross were made. In 1840, the commanders were presented with stars, and the class of knights was divided into a knight's cross and an honorary cross. In 1878, the Silver Cross "For Merit" was established. In 1892, crosses were introduced for services to the grand ducal house, which do not have a red or green star substrate on the crosses and breastplates. In 1902, the crosses of the knights of the 2nd class, like the crosses of the 1st class, were made of silver. The manufacturer since 1891 was T. Muller, a court jeweler and order factory from Weimar. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen before 1945, vol. III, 1999.

Golden Cross in Maltese uniform. The crosses are sheathed in gold and enameled. On the front side is a raised white falcon. Reverse with a gold middle shield worn. On the upper cruciform shoulder between the peaks is a large ornamented agraph, almost completely filling the space between the peaks. Movable gold crown is fixed on it by means of internal hinge. A ring passes through the imperial apple, and another collar ring is glued into it.

Front side:

• Cruciform hands are sheathed in gold and covered with green icing. Hatching is visible below it.
In the
• corners of the crosspiece are red glazed rhombuses with gold ornamented tips and gold edges.
• Hatching is visible under the red enamel. Decorated lace with white enamel.
In the
• center is suspended a white enameled and golden falcon, the head faces to the left.

Downside:

• The crosses are white enameled with a gold border.
In the
• corners of the traverse are green glazed rhombuses with gold ornamented peaks and edges.
• Hatching is visible under the green enamel. Decorated lace with white enamel.
• A blue enameled shield is installed in the center. Edge - golden laurel wreath tied from below
• Above is a golden crown.
• On the blue central shield there is 4 lowercase font: - VIGI - LANDO - ASCEN - DIMUS -.
• (Through vigilance, we rise)

Tape:

• red 100 mm wide.

Photos of military antiques Kögl www.mkoegl.de

.

Obverse: House of the Order of Vigilance/From the White Falcon Grand Cross

Reverse: Home Order of Vigilance/From the White Falcon Grand Cross

Established:

August 2, 1732 by Duke Ernst Augustus
18 October 1815 Renewal by Grand Duke Charles Augustus

Awarded:

1815 – 1918

Data:

• Material: gold, enamel
• Size: 49mm x 81mm, 33mm crown
• Weight: 28.9g

estimated collector price:

3300 – 3500 €

OEK Number:

2323