As every order the Oldenburg House
and Merit Order of Duke Peter Friedrich Ludwig hat a so
called "Kapitel" - the "committee" responsible for all
order matters. Those members wore for there time being
in this "Kapitel" a special decoration. Members could be
bearer of a higher grade even so wearing a lower
committee decoration. Only persons in duty for the state
of Oldenburg were eligible to become a member of the "Kapitel".
Decorations that were made in Gold until were made from
1903 on in Silver gilt. The order statues from November
27, 1838, issued the following "Kapitularzeichen"
(Committee decorations):
Class:
Description:
Kapitel - Großkreuz
(Committee - Grand Cross)
Golden Medallion with
golden Crown. Limited to 2 members. Also be worn by
the Grand master of the order (The duke himself) the
Grand Prior (The prince after becoming 18 years of
age). The annual income for those members were 1600
Mark since 1892. Between 1839 and 1918 15
decorations were delivered to the "Ordenskanzlei"
(orders chancellery).
Kapitel - Großkomthur
(Committee - Grand Commander)
Golden Medallion with
Silver Crown. Limited to 2 members. The annual
income for those members were 1200 Mark since 1892.
Between 1839 and 1918 5 decorations were delivered
to the "Ordenskanzlei" (orders chancellery).
Kapitel - Komthur
(Committee - Commander)
Golden Medallion.
Limited to 4 members. The annual income for those
members were 900 Mark since 1892. Between 1839 and
1918 7 decorations were delivered to the "Ordenskanzlei"
(orders chancellery).
Kapitel - Ritterkreuz
(Committee - Knight Cross)
Silver Medallion.
Limited to 8 members. The annual income for those
members were 600 Mark since 1892. Between 1839 and
1918 15 decorations were delivered to the "Ordenskanzlei"
(orders chancellery). Until 1860 this grade was
named "Kapitular - Kleinkreuz (Committee - Small
Cross). The "Ordenssekretär" (Secretary) and the "Ordensrentmeister"
(financial Secretary) were automatically wearing
this grade due to their function. A member in this
grade would receive automatically the knight cross
of the house order, if he wouldn't be a bearer of a
higher grade of the house order.
All classes are extremely rare.
The
early manufactured decorations are always from
highest jewelers quality. Always check for a two
colored gold. Highlighted parts in red and lower
parts are in dull yellow Gold. Metal parts
underneath translucid enamel are hand engraved. The
hanger taking the ring between crown and medallion
is finely detailed by hand engraving.
Here
a detail picture from the site. Also here you can
see the two colored gold.
