German Awards - Order of the Grand Cross of the Zähringen Lion

The foundation of the 2nd Order of the House was proposed back in 1809 by the hereditary Grand Duke Karl. The actual foundation is indicated by Grand Duke Karl Friedrich on December 26, 1812, in the name day of his wife Stephanie. The statutes of the order were issued only on June 17, 1840 by the Grand Duke Ludwig. The primary 3 classes, Grand Cross, Commander and Knight, were supplemented by a 2nd class commander. 1st class commanders additionally received a 4-beam breast star. From 1877 to 1896, the Knights of the Order of Berthold I were led as the upper class. In 1889, the Merit Cross was added. In 1815, golden oak foliage with a letter was donated. Swords for military merit for all classes were established in 1866. The gold chain of the order has been awarded since 1868 and has been introduced by statute since 1889. In World War I, the order was also awarded on the ribbon of the Military Order of Karl Friedrich. Beginning in 1917, ribbon linings with the letter - F - were also donated to be worn without the cross of merit. The Grand Cross was awarded with an 8-rayed breast star. The first award took place at the Congress of Vienna in 1815. The number of awards is about 760. Source: Jörg Nemmergut "German Orders and Insignia until 1945," 1997, vol. 1.

The cross is gold or silver gilded with outward-flaring cross sleeves. The crosses in front are filled with green semicircular embossed glass enamel. At the ends, the filling is beveled. The gaps of the cross sleeves are filled with gilded decorations (braces). The back of the cross sleeves is smooth and made of gilded silver. Front and back with a gold medallion worn. A transverse eye is soldered on the upper cruciform shoulder, through which an elongated double ribbon ring passes.

Front side:

• Round medallion with gold raised border. It's obliquely shaded.
In
• a closed field, a round tower enamels the ruins of the Zähringen family castle.
• The tower is made in red upper and side green foliage. Below is a green bottom with 3 stones.
• Background (sky) in very bright blue.

Downside:

• Round medallion with gold raised border. It's obliquely shaded.
In
• a surrounded field on a red background is a golden, erect lion screaming to the right.

Tape:

• Strap/ribbon of the large cross 101 mm with green edges, side stripes 13 mm golden yellow, central stripes green 71 mm.

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Obverse: Order of the Zähringen Lion Grand Cross

Reverse: Order of the Tseringen Lion Grand Cross

Established:

December 26, 1812 Grand Duke Karl Ludwig Friedrich
June 17, 1840 Grand Duke Leopold

Awarded:

1802 – 1918

Data:

• Material: gold, glass flow, partially enameled
• Size: 60.7mm
• Weight: 31.2g

estimated collector price:

5800 - 6000 € in gold
4000 - 4200 € silver gilded

OEK Number:

132