Bulgaria Cyril and Methodius church awarded order

[new world]

Not the official high-level Monarchy awarded type, but the Bulgarian Orthodox Church award - order of Saints Cyril and Methodius.

2nd class. Made in Viena by V Mayer.

Quite rare as a set, normally you see only crosses offered for sale, stars are scarce. Comes in the box, not sure if this is correct box though - that crest on the box does not look Bulgarian.

Lovely set nevertheless!

 

 

Edited November 10, 2017 by new world

[nickstrenk]

Nice,indeed.If it is yours,please,next photos of reverses.

[Alex K]

agreed, very nice

 

Alex K

[922F]

New World--simply a fantastic and extremely rare set!!   

Absolutely correct case for this award.  The outer lid bears the arms of Archbishop Roberto Menini, O.F.M. Apostolic Vicar of Sofia and Plovdiv [1885-1916], who founded this Order in February, 1905 to recognize contributions to the Roman Catholic Church in Bulgaria.   Pope Pius X sanctioned the Order later that same year.   Men and women, Bulgarians and foreigners, all could qualify for this honor.

Supposedly organized into 3 classes with First Class being a badge, sash & star; Second class, 1st division, being a neck badge & star; Second class, 2nd division, neck badge only; Third class breast badge worn on trifold ribbon.   All insignia known made in Vienna by Meyer and so marked.  First and Second class cases most often[3 of 4 I’ve seen!] have Menini’s arms on the outer lid but none of the five third class cases I’ve seen display the arms on the lid.   

Tsar Ferdinand tried to 'influence' abolition of this Order to pave the way for his own Order of Cyril & Methodius through many stratagems--all of which failed.  When Menini died in 1916, however, this Order became 'obsolete'.

Insignia of the higher grades is quite difficult to find, especially cased sets.  I know [1959 to present] of only one cased First Class set plus 2 uncased sets, two cased Second Class with star [New World's, likely ex-Klenau auction ex-Robert McNamara collection] and one uncased set.   Badges for Second Class with star insignia usually seem to be the same size as First Class sash badges while Second Class [without star] badges seem to be the same size as Third Class badges but fitted with a cravat loop.    I recall seeing maybe 10-12 Third Class badges being offered for sale over the years but do not know how many were the same items being resold.

Several articles on this Order describe it in more detail but none to my hand at present.   

Again, New World, what a wonderful and rare set!!!

[new world]

922F - excellent follow-up, I didn't expect so much information on this award!

So, this is from Bulgarian Catholic Church, not Bulgarian Orthodox Church? I wasn't award Catholic Church had any significant influence in Bulgaria, as Bulgarians are mostly Orthodox. SS Cyril and Methodius are also orthodox saints, curious to see how they are connected to Catholics? 

Unfortunately the set is not mine, another collector showed me the photos. 

[Graf]

The Set is very rare and nice especially with original box

There are few makers -even french ones

Here is a Star from Kretly

 

...plus more pictures of different Stars, Crosses and Breast badge

[new world]

Graf, thanks!

I remember seeing Kretly star.

I've noticed that star in pic #4 has a motto on the circle, while other stars don't. I am curious to know if that's a period variation or later modification.

 

 

 

[922F]

The Kretly stars seem a real curiosity.   At one point they were posited as trial pieces for the Catholic Order and again as trials [with the motto ring] for the alleged 1920's Russian exile Order  {see FAKE BULGARIAN ORDERS ON THE MARKET, post 193.  Liverpool listed a star of this Kretly type with the "K" and Byzantine/Russian crown center].   One expert suggested that they were Second Class First Division stars.      

Note that they have a 'rounder' outer circumfrence than Meyer stars. 

[Graf]

Hi 992 F,

 

I am not quite sure that the Kretly Star is a trial It is properly marked for French Silver on the pin plus the Kretly mark plus the proper Kretly Plate, The Quality is typical Kretly Firm.  I am not defending it simply because i own this Star Simply I analyze the facts.

It is contrary to the unmarked Stars and Crosses sold recently on different Auctions and Dealers Sites

BTW The Cross on Liverpool site, discussed in other thread,  is sold.

Unless there is a Vatican Document stating that the Austrian Firm Mayer was the sole designated maker of this decoration we have to accept that there could be other makers who gives their own Variation Depending od the materials they use

The Mayer Star is typical Austrian type

I can not remember where i saved the Star with the motto from. However I will try to trace the site.

The Set i listed was sold on 259 Kuenker Auction in 2015

The badge is being on sale for a while on La Galerie Numismatique Supposedly it was already "sold' twice on two of theirs previous Auctions ??!!

 

Best

Graf

 

[Graf]

I found better picture on the reverse site of the Star with the motto

 

I remember now  it was sold on the Hemman Historica a year ago

 

It was stated that it is 1st Class Star - Breite 90 mm. Gewicht 76,2 g. Seltene

 

 

 

 

Edited November 11, 2017 by Graf

[Graf]

Hi Guys

Here are the miniatures of the Order

The badge is 18 mm wide and the Star is 24 mm wide -Silver gilded

 

Best

 

Graf

Edited December 4, 2017 by Graf

[new world]

5 hours ago, Graf said:

Hi Guys

Here are the miniatures of the Order

The badge is 18 mm wide and the Star is 24 mm wide -Silver gilded

 

Best

 

Graf

Lovely minis, note how two ribbons are stitched together to wear these as a pair. 

[Graf]

Hi New World

 

Thank you for the comments.

They are mounted to be worn together

I assume this is the 1st Class Set

I am not sure how how the awarding was in place Whether the persons awarded could be given the Order/Cross more then once

922F- any information will be appreciated

I will post more pictures when the Set arrives

 

Best

 

Graf

[new world]

13 hours ago, Graf said:

... I assume this is the 1st Class Set ...

this could be either 1st or 2nd class

[Graf]

That is correct comment

[Graf]

Hi ,

 

i have the sets of minis in my hands

 

They look fantastic

 

The Star is very vaulted an the central medallion is hand crafted Gold

Both the cross and the Star are marked  with old Austrian marks and also V.M, which i assume is for V.. Mayer Vienna

 

Here are more pictures

Edited December 19, 2017 by Graf

[new world]

wow, stunning minis, extra rare - congrats on this find!!!

I was thinking about the ribbon for this award - it looks like they were using Civil Merit order ribbon.

 

[922F]

First Graf, high congratulations on obtaining your set!!  Magnificent pieces!!

Seem to recall an article in the German Society journal regarding this Order and an award to Frau Krupp or someone of similar status published some years ago.  Perhaps the lady received the first or second class as there was an image of a star on the cover of that issue.  Will see if I can retrieve it; it may have had information on award eligibility and procedures.   Dr. Paprikoff commented in the 1970's that Ferdinand actively discouraged Bulgarians from accepting this award--commentary that might be repeated in that same article.

These miniatures may have been part of a collection possibly originating from a manufacturer's stock.  I believe that  Rothe's Kohlmarkt shop had similar items [displayed only upon request] in the late 1980's.  The auction catalog offering them had a number of similar star/badge combination sets.

[new world]

14 hours ago, 922F said:

...  Dr. Paprikoff commented in the 1970's that Ferdinand actively discouraged Bulgarians from accepting this award...

I'd be curious to know why so, is it because they were awarded by Roman Catholic Church, not by official Orthodox religion? 

[922F]

I suspect that Ferdinand disliked Menini's Order primarily due to its name and his possible perception of associated Roman Catholic influence or infringements in Bulgaria.  Ferdinand intended to create a supreme Order for Bulgaria [and himself] using the same Saints' names.  Remember the Tsar's troubled long term relationship with the Roman Catholic Church—likely a contributing overall negative factor towards Menini and his works from Ferdinand’s point of view.  

Here is the cover of Orden und Ehrenzeichen  [June 2011] containing the article mentioned post 18 above. This issue may still be available directly from the DGO or from second-hand dealers or eB#y.  Unaware of copyright protection I will not reproduce the contents.  My German is rather poor but it appears that the article's Clerical Cyril & Methodius commentary indicates that Ferdinand detested Menini's ‘usurpation’ of the Saints’ names.  The article describes Friedrich and Margarethe Krupp's contribution of thousands of marks towards Catholic charities, schools and so on in Bulgaria.  Friedrich apparently received a St. Alexander [class unknown to me] around 1900-08--probably for armaments related ‘merits’.  Margarethe’s award [document dated 16 March 1908] possibly reflects Menini’s recognition of her contributions to Catholic interests…and or a thumbing a nose at Ferdinand!!