German Awards - Order of Merit of the Bavarian Crown to the Grand Cross

The chest star depicted here belongs to the large cross of the order, the highest class, and was always worn along with the order cross. Pectoral stars vary in size and some structural elements. The pectoral star to the large comture is the same in design and differs only in slightly smaller sizes. On the back you can also find dissolved stickers of the manufacturer, for example, jeweler and gold miner Eduard Kvelhorst, Munich.
The Order of Merit for the Bavarian Crown was established by King Maximilian Joseph I on May 19, 1808. This order is also known as the Crown Order of the Bavarian Crown or the Civil Order of Merit. On the one hand, honored civil servants of Bavaria were awarded without taking into account rank and position, as well as foreigners who earned for the Bavarian crown. The award was associated with the elevation to the personal (not hereditary) nobility. When awarded the order for over 3 generations, the personal nobility was transformed into hereditary nobility. Cavaliers of the order were allowed to add the title to their name - Knights...
Initially, the order was established in 3 classes: the Grand Cross, Komtur and Knight. Gold and silver medals were awarded. Under King Maximilian II. a Grand Komtur class was added. The number of individual classes was limited. Initially, only 12 large crosses, 24 komturny and 100 knightly were allowed to be awarded. With the revision of the statutes in 1817, the number of awards was increased to 24, 40 and 160. Although the award was not tied to any specific status, the award took into account that the lent should also have been able to lead a decent life. Thus, the awarded person had to have sufficient financial resources, land ownership or other property, which excluded the awarding of "ordinary citizens." For military merits he was awarded the Order of Max Joseph, which entailed the same privileges (personal nobility).

Ahluchevaya, arched, diamond and openwork chest star made of silver. The body consists of 8 main beams. There are 5 intermediate jets between them, graduated to the center. They are 2-row diamond. In the center is a round, gold, enameled medallion. It is surrounded by a buttoned-up enamelled wreath of oak leaves. The reverse is smooth gilded with a perpendicular pin with a response hook. In the center is a round, smooth, arched overlay.

Front side:

• Middle medallion with a wide dark red translucent enameled ring, inside and out with a golden shiny border.
• The golden motto of the order is VIRTUS - ET - HONOS -, below there are 3 gold stars.
• The enclosed midfield is enamelled in white/blue with Bavarian diamonds.
In the
• center is a golden 5-beam royal crown.
• Around the medallion is a golden burgundy, tied below with a bow wreath of oak leaves with fruits.
• The leaves are translucent, green, and the acorns are translucent red enameled.

Downside:

• Smooth and gilded. In the center is a domed round lining (here without a manufacturer's plate).
• Vertically - a pin with a reciprocal hook.

Photos www.mkoegl.de - Specialized trade of orders, insignia and medals
.