A rare early 19th century, “White Knight,” Danish Order of Dannebrog, Grand Cross Badge and Collar Chain set, of the time when the Order only held only 50 individuals of royal or noble status; the Grand Cross Badge with King Christian VII (1766 - 1808) mo

A rare early 19th century, “White Knight,” Danish Order of Dannebrog, Grand Cross Badge and Collar Chain set, of the time when the Order only held only 50 individuals of royal or noble status; the Grand Cross Badge with King Christian VII (1766 - 1808) monogram and likely manufactured by Danish royal goldsmith, Poul Kurtz.

Collar Chain and Badge: Early 19th Century Danish Order of Dannebrog Collar Chain, consisting of of twenty-nine 14mm x 20mm bronze gilt and white enamelled Dannebrog crosses, each of which alternates positions with Royal cyphers, incorporating fourteen 14mm x 23mm bronze gilt crowned "C5" cyphers (King Christian V) and fifteen 22mm x 24mm bronze gilt crowned "W" cyphers (King Valdemar II), the cyphers themselves alternating positions, one of the "W" cyphers is intentionally swelled and appears at the back of the neck, the "C" cypher at the front with a hook on its reverse for the collar chain cross, weighing 210.4 grams; each of the crosses and cyphers with dual loops on either side, the top loop on each connected by one link, the bottom loop on each connected by three links, the chain measuring approximately 1,480 mm in length.

Together with with rare Order of Dannebrog, Grand Cross Badge, by P. Kurtz, c. 1800 (1766 - 1808 issue) of the reign of Christian VII; typical quality of the period, consisting of a Latin cross with ted and white enamelled arms, the obverse with 14 class jewels, the reverse with a central monogram of Christian VII topped with a royal crown and integral loop. While unmarked, it displays the manufacturing characteristics of the Danish royal goldsmith Poul (Paul) Kurtz and measures 44mm x 59mm and weighs 23.9g.

Both contained in an unofficial 20th century velvet lined case

Condition: Chain exhibiting chipping to the white enamel on multiple crosses, with slight gilt wear throughout; the Grand Cross Badge lacking nearly all the red enamel, and the white enamel chipped in places, therefor overall about Very Fine.

It should be noted that until 1808, membership of the Order of Dannebrog was high exclusive and limited to 50 individuals of royal and noble status, know as “White Knights.”