Orders of Brunswick, Order of Henry the Lion Insignia, Plate XVII, 1844

This is an original antique wood engraving, colored by hand, showing insignia of the Duchy of Brunswick. At the upper left is a breast star (1): a blue cross edged in gold on light blue rays, with a red ring around a crowned monogram on white. At the upper right a second star (2) is a silver Maltese cross with crowns and gold scrollwork in the angles and a gold laurel ring around a red center. In the middle row the large badge (3) hangs from a red ribbon edged in yellow: a crown above a gold lion, a green wreath, and a blue Maltese cross with crowns and scrolls in the angles, its red center showing a white horse. Beside it a plain silver cross with a crowned monogram center (6), and a smaller crowned badge with lion and blue cross (4), both on the same red and yellow ribbon. A gold collar (5) runs across the foot: two lions flanking a crowned shield with flags, and two red medallions with a crowned monogram, joined by chains.

The running head reads "BRUNSWICK." and the plate number "XVII.". The pieces are numbered 1 to 6. The stars, badges and collar medallions carry the motto "IMMOTA FIDES" (unshaken faith), split across the arms of the silver cross 6 as IM MO TA FI DES, and star 2 and badge 4 add a roman date, cut "MDCCCCXXXIV" on the star and "MDCCCXXXIV" (1834) on the badge. Motto, date, lion and horse identify the Order of Henry the Lion.

The plate comes from Ordres de Chevalerie et Marques d'Honneur, published by Auguste Wahlen and issued in Brussels by the Librairie Historique-Artistique, rue de Schaerbeek, 12, in 1844. Auguste Wahlen was the pen name of the Belgian writer Jean-François-Nicolas Loumyer (1801 to 1875), whose title page lists his own knighthoods in orders of Prussia, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Hanover, Greece, the Roman States, Saxe-Coburg and Brazil.

The red, blue and gold of this plate make a strong, regal image for framing.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.