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Lot Essay
Founded by Peter I at the end of the seventeenth century, the Order of St Andrew the First-Called remained the highest Russian award until the end of the monarchy. Orders embellished with diamonds were granted as a special favour.
Initially the recipients were allowed to add diamonds at their own discretion. However, in 1797 Paul I abandoned this practice. In his Statutes of the Orders of the Russian Empire, 1797, he decreed that henceforth it should be forbidden to embellish orders with precious stones, unless granted by the Emperor as a special distinction. From that year onwards the official version of the order was established (U. Tillander-Godenhielm, The Russian Imperial Award System 1894-1917, Helsinki, 2005, p. 77).
The presence of pastes is not unusual. As with other Imperial presents made in precious materials, these could be returned to the Cabinet of His Imperial Majesty for cash reward. After returning the order, the recipient, however, had to order a duplicate with pastes that he could wear to special occasions.
Such Russian badges and stars of the Order of St Andrew appear extremely rarely at auction. For a similar badge of the order, see Christie's, Geneva, 11 May 1983, lot 186.
Initially the recipients were allowed to add diamonds at their own discretion. However, in 1797 Paul I abandoned this practice. In his Statutes of the Orders of the Russian Empire, 1797, he decreed that henceforth it should be forbidden to embellish orders with precious stones, unless granted by the Emperor as a special distinction. From that year onwards the official version of the order was established (U. Tillander-Godenhielm, The Russian Imperial Award System 1894-1917, Helsinki, 2005, p. 77).
The presence of pastes is not unusual. As with other Imperial presents made in precious materials, these could be returned to the Cabinet of His Imperial Majesty for cash reward. After returning the order, the recipient, however, had to order a duplicate with pastes that he could wear to special occasions.
Such Russian badges and stars of the Order of St Andrew appear extremely rarely at auction. For a similar badge of the order, see Christie's, Geneva, 11 May 1983, lot 186.