Orders of Denmark, Dannebrog Crosses and Long Service Medals, Plate XX, 1844

This is an original antique wood engraving, colored by hand, showing Danish crosses and medals. At the top the two faces of a silver medal (7) hang from a red and white ribbon: one with a crowned monogram, the other with a word in an oak wreath. In the middle row three crosses hang from white ribbons edged in red, each below a crown and the crowned cipher of King Frederick VI: a gold mounted white cross edged in red (9), a larger cross with a silver crown, pale pink arms with star patterns and a red and gold edge (8), and a silver cross (10) lettered with dates. At the foot two dark medals with gold borders hang from a gold chain (12), one with the crowned cipher and one with a crowned shield of three lions among hearts, and a dark cross with a gold border (11) hangs from its own chain.

The running head is printed "DANEMARCK," (with a comma) (Denmark) and the plate number "XX.". The pieces are numbered 7 to 12. Medal 7 reads "29 IAN 1801." and "FOROODTIDNESTE" as cut, with "FORTIENT" (deserved) on the reverse. Cross 9 reads "GUD OG KONGEN" (God and the King), the motto of the Dannebrog; cross 10 reads "1808" and "1219 W 1671". Medal 12 reads "FOR 8 AAERS TROETIENESTE" (for eight years of faithful service), and cross 11 "16 AARS FOR TROE TIENESTE" (for sixteen years of faithful service).

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 and white ribbons and the dark service medals make a striking contrast on the page.

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