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Order of the Elephant, Christian IV

Christian IV’s Order of the Elephant. Gold enamel with table-cut stones. On the elephant’s cloth the Order of the Mailed Sword-Arm can be seen. The combination of the two orders was conferred in 1633 and 1634. Since then only the Order of the Elephant has been awarded.

Relations

Miniature orders

Frederik VII’s miniature orders. The 27 orders are all in silver, but otherwise made as accurate copies of the original badges.

Order of the Elephant

The Chain of the Order of the Elephant with Insignia, gold with enamel and table-cut stones. The Chain was possibly made in Copenhagen by the goldsmith Jean Henri de Moor after 1693; the elephant possibly by Paul Kurtz, 1671.

Order of the Elephant, star

Star of the Order of the Elephant, brilliants and pearls on gold and enamel. Possibly made c. 1770 by J.F. Fistaine.

Order of the Elephant, miniature

Miniature Order of the Elephant, the tower of which is made into a whistle. Used by Christian V during hunts in the Deer Park, north of Copenhagen. Made by Paul Kurtz, 1670’s.

Order of the Garter

The Order of the Garter, sent to Christian IV by James I in 1603.

Order of the Elephant, Frederik II

The Order of the Elephant in its oldest existing form, with Frederik II’s picture, monogram and motto. Made in 1580 by Hans Raadt, possibly from a drawing by Melchior Lorck.

1625-1650

The second half of Christian IV's reign became a time of recession. The economic crisis became more severe, and at the same time the fortunes of war turned.

Christian IV

Christian IV was the King of Denmark and Norway from 1588; crowned in 1596. Son of Frederik II and Sophie of Mecklenburg.