Serbia, Kingdom of. An Order of St. Sava II Class Set, French Made, c.1918

(Orden Svetog Save). Instituted January 23rd, 1883. Type II - 1903-1922. (C. 1917 issue). An Order of St. Sava Grand Officer Set, consisting of:

1. An eight-pointed silver breast star, consisting of a gilded Maltese Cross with blue and white enameled arms, each finished with two ball finals, and with gilded silver Serbian double-headed eagles with red enameled shields on the breasts in the quadrants in between the arms of the cross, the central white enameled medallion shows the iconography of St. Sava, delicately painted by hand with fine details, surrounded by the inscription “троvломb сконмb вbса прнобрвте” in blue enamels, the reverse plain, with a barrel hinge, a vertical “banjo-style” pinback, with broad catch and two additional stabilizer hooks, hallmarked with a boar’s head for French manufacture as well as an unknown maker mark, measuring 81.2 mm (w) x 86.8 mm (l), weighing 80.10 grams, with the enamels fully intact with only small contact marks, in better than very fine condition. 

2. A gilded silver Maltese Cross neck badge, consisting of a gilded Maltese Cross with blue and white enameled arms, each finished with two ball finals, and with gilded silver Serbian double-headed eagles with red enameled shields on the breasts in the quadrants in between the arms of the cross, the central white enameled medallion shows the iconography of St. Sava, delicately painted by hand with fine details, surrounded by the inscription “троvломb сконмb вbса прнобрвте” in blue enamels, the reverse with a central white enameled medallion dated with the institution date “1883”, surrounded by an enameled ring bearing laurel leaves, on a hollow swivel crown and ring and oval loop for suspension from its period original neck ribbon, the ring hallmarked with a boar’s head for French manufacture, measuring 49.6 mm (w) x 82.2 mm (l) inclusive of its swivel crown suspension, weighing 41.70 grams, the enamels fully intact with only small contact marks, in better than very fine condition.

Footnote: This Grand Officer Set is certainly of French manufacture as evidenced by the French silver hallmark. These awards are of fine quality manufacture signature to Arthus-Bertrand, however, the style of iconography of St. Sava matches closer to that of manufacture by Huguenin Fréres. The Order of St. Sava was a decoration of the Kingdom of Serbia established by Milan I on January 23, 1883. The Order of Saint Sava was established originally to recognize civilians for meritorious achievements to the Church, to arts and sciences, the royal house, and the state. In 1914, a change was made permitting military personnel to receive the honour for military merit. The Order of St Sava was then awarded by the King of Yugoslavia until the abolishment of the monarchy in 1945. It was awarded in five grades: Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer and Knight.