142. "Carol I" Order, instituted in 1906, in the rank of Collar, design by the famous Berlin goldsmith Paul Telge, silver, extremely rare collector's piece

The order was established on May 10, 1906, for the 40th anniversary of the reign of King Carol I. It was the highest reward for services provided to the Romanian state. The Necklace was granted to sovereigns, foreign princes, and heads of foreign states for significant services to the Romanian state. Within the Royal Family of Romania, the order was automatically conferred upon the crown prince and other princes when they reached the age of 18. It was also awarded to statesmen who had made significant contributions to the development of sciences and arts, but only after they had received the highest orders of Romania. Each member of the order had the right to a certificate, except for the sovereigns and princes. The rank of Necklace of the Order of Carol I was granted to a limited number of members, initially 5, then 10. Among the personalities who received this distinction were Ion C. Brătianu, Petre P. Carp, Nicolae Iorga, Nicolae Titulescu, as well as Romania's marshals, Alexandru Averescu, and Constantin Prezan. The emblem of the order is a cross with fleur-de-lis extremities, enameled with red guilloche enamel, each between 9 gold rays. On the front, the crowned eagle carries the cross in its beak and in its claws the sword and the arm of justice, with a circular medallion mounted on the chest of the eagle, with the effigy of King Carol I and beneath a scroll with the inscription "Through constancy to success". On the reverse, centrally, is a circular blue enamel cartridge, with the inscription "1866 10 May 1906" and the royal monogram of Carol I. The emblem is topped with a silver and red enamel royal crown. The chain is made up of 10 alternating medallions, on a blue and red enamel background, representing the coats of arms of the provinces of the Old Kingdom (Wallachia, Moldavia, Oltenia, and Dobrogea) and two medallions with the quartered shield of the Hohenzollern dynasty. Between the medallions, the number of King Carol I, decorated with red enamel. The clasp is decorated with a crowned eagle and bears the mark of Joseph Resch and Sons.

Dimensions

custom cross: 9 x 6 cm; chain: l=79 cm

Description

gilded silver, enamel

Research information

"Collar of the Order of Carol I", National Military Museum Bucharest, Historia Publishing, 2005 RUOKONEN, Antti, "Yesterday and today's Knights Orders of Romania", Multiprit, Vaasa, Finland, 2010

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