House Order of Hohenzollern, Type II, Military Division, Collar

SKU: 01.HOZ.0101.301.01

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Attributes

  • country
    Germany
  • date of institution
    December 5, 1841
  • remarks
    The German name of the award is ‘Fürstlicher Hausorden von Hohenzollern, Kette und Kleinod mit Schwertern'.

Physical Description


A collar constructed of silver, silver gilt, and enamel. It is composed of 17 solid chain links with a smooth reverse. The chain links themselves are attached to each other with small top and bottom chains. There are two types of alternating chain links. One is a cypher made up of the gilt letters ‘CF’. The other one is in the form of the Hohenzollern coat of arms, a shield with silver enamelled top left and bottom right parts and black enamelled top right and bottom left parts, with a gilt crown on top.
The decoration is attached to the collar by means of two small chains per side, attached directly to the decoration’s crown.
The decoration is a George’s cross with outwardly rounded arms, constructed of gold and enamels, with silver gilt crossed swords through the centre. On the top of the 12 o’clock arm sits a mobile crown. The cross is white enamelled with a black outline inside the white field, and a narrow gold border. A green enamelled wreath with gold borders is featured in between the arms, made of laurel on the left and oak leaves on the right (as seen from the obverse). The obverse centre medallion is enamelled in white and features the black-and-white Hohenzollern coat of arms with a narrow gold border, above which is a gold crown with red lining. The medallion’s ring is enamelled in blue with a gold border and features the gold inscription ‘NIHIL SINE DEO’ (‘nothing without God’) with two small decorative twigs in green and narrow gold borders at the bottom. The reverse is similar, except that the medallion features the gold crowned monogram ‘FC’. The crown is in the same design as the one on the obverse medallion. The inscription reads ‘DEN 5TEN DECEMBER 1841’ (‘December 5th, 1841’).

History


The House Order of Hohenzollern was founded by Prince Konstantin of Hohenzollern-Hechingen and Prince Karl Anton of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen on December 5, 1841, and was conferred upon individuals who rendered meritorious service to the princely house.

The order originally featured five grades, including three crosses and two medals.

In 1852, the two Hohenzollern principalities were annexed by Prussia. The Prussian government expanded the order and it continued to be awarded in Hohenzollern as a princely House Order.

The order underwent several expansions and was reorganised numerous times throughout its history.

In 1866, crossed swords were added to the grades that were conferred in recognition of military merit.

In 1891, the grade of Honour Commander Cross was added to the order.

In 1910, Gold and Silver Crosses of Merit were added as grades to the order.

The order continued to be awarded throughout the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich.

In 1935, King Carol II of Romania became a prince of the House of Hollerzollern and was given the right to confer the order in Romania.

The Collar was added as a grade in 1935 and was worn by the Grand Master of the order.

The Collar features 17 large links, which alternated between the monogram "CF" (Carl and Friedrich) and the heraldic shield of the Hohenzollern House.

Only one Collar (1930) was conferred. It was awarded to Prince Friedrich von Hollenzollern (1927-1965).

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Versions

  • Price

    $27,000 USD

  • Composition

    Silver gilt/Enamelled

  • Inscription

    Obv: CF

  • Size

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