This chapter will be including about 150 different Serafimer Stars. I have been looking and digging for information through the last 30 years to understand a bit of this history. My focus is to display the variations of these beautiful pieces of art.

I must thank the huge inventory at Livrustkammaren in Stockholm Sweden. They have a huge collection of historical pieces with historical information.  As you see on this page a lot of the photos are still in black and white. Hopefully one day one will have more of these photos in high resolution color.  They have iincluded the history of these pieces and on many the dimensions are included. Unfortunately the weight of the pieces are missing. I am sure this will be available one day.

The Livrustkammaren is located next to the Royal Castle in Stockholm. I have visited their exhibitions several times. Very nice and and very interesting. About 20 years ago I was to have meetings with them and also having a real look at their vaults.  Unfortuntely Radon gas had been measured at too high levels and the old vaults were closed for all visits for years.  Still we had some very good meetings and discussed their collection of orders.  Since then they have moved their photos from their old website and now you find most of it on Wikimedia Commons, Europeana, Omnia.ie, etc.  Hopefully what you find there will be on these pages, plus alot more.

Scroll down (look below) to see these Serafimer Stars! Please enjoy!

-1852.02.15  Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 89
Width  (mm): 89
Weight(gr) : 49
Tracking # : S240x
Date       : 1852.02.15 awarded
Knight #   : 314

-1852.02.15  Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 83
Width  (mm): 83
Weight(gr) : 61
Tracking # : S334x
Date       : 1852.02.15 awarded
Knight #   : 314

-1850  Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 73
Width  (mm): 75
Weight(gr) : 45.5
Tracking # : S195
Date       : 1850 estimated
Knight #   : 

-1850-70  Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 79
Width  (mm): 79
Weight(gr) : 
Tracking # : S516x
Date       : 1850-1870
Knight #   : 

-1850  Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 90
Width  (mm): 90
Weight(gr) : 71
Tracking # : S241x
Date       : 1850 estimated
Knight #   : 

-1850  Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 80
Width  (mm): 80
Weight(gr) : 
Tracking # : S351x
Date       : 18290121 estimated
Knight #   : 239

-1853.04.28  Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 
Width  (mm): 
Weight(gr) : 
Tracking # : S424x
Date       : 18530428 estimated
Knight #   : 320

-1854.04.28  Serafimer Star-

Height (mm):
Width  (mm): 
Weight(gr) : 
Tracking # : S424x
Date       : 18540428 estimated
Knight #   : 323

-1855.10.10  Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 90.5
Width  (mm): 90.5
Weight(gr) : 93.7
Tracking # : S584x
Date       : 1855.10.10  awarded
Knight #   : 325

-1856.06.14  Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 89.5
Width  (mm): 89.5
Weight(gr) : 73
Tracking # : S585x
Date       : 1856.06.14  awarded
Knight #   : 331

-1856.09.12  Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 81
Width  (mm): 81
Weight(gr) : 
Tracking # : S387x
Date       : 1856.09.12  awarded
Knight #   : 332

-1858.03.09  Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 112
Width  (mm): 112
Weight(gr) : 22.6
Tracking # : S223
Date       : 18580309 estimated
Knight #   : 337

-1858.03.09  Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 79
Width  (mm): 79
Weight(gr) : 84.4
Tracking # : S215x
Date       : 18580309 estimated
Knight #   : 337

-1858.07.12  Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 
Width  (mm): 
Weight(gr) : 
Tracking # : S425x
Date       : 18580712 estimated
Knight #   : 340

-1860  Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 86
Width  (mm): 86
Weight(gr) : 63
Tracking # : S251x
Date       : 1826.05.03 awarded
Knight #   : 234

Owner: Charles XV of Sweden-Norway Owner: National Historical Museum
DATING 1850-1872 approximately
COLLECTION Livrustkammaren
INVENTORY NUMBER 414 (26:196)
Knight award date 18260503 knigth # 234

-1860.05.05  Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 
Width  (mm): 
Weight(gr) : 
Tracking # : S426x
Date       : 1860.05.05 awarded
Knight #   : 351

Previous owner De Geer, Louis awarded 1860 #351
Later owner Abelin, G R Awarded 1886 knight # 483
DONOR TO THE MUSEUM Abelin, L
DONOR TO THE MUSEUM Zethelius, L
Nordic Museum
Zethelius?? Uneven edges on HIS
RNO 1856; KNO 1858; KmstkNO 1858; LSkS 1858; HedLHA 1859; RoKavKMO 1860; one of the 18 in Sv. Akad. 1862; LVA 1862 (president 1873-74); HedLVVS 1863; StkNS:tOO 1864; jur. Honorary doctor at the jubilee celebration in Lund 28 May 1868; vice-chancellor at KMO 1881; HedLFS 1882; HedLVS 1883; chancellor at KMO 1885-87
18600505 awarded. Knight # 351
Not a perfect photo and a reverse photo is missing, but still it assumed that this is a Christian Hammer star.

Interesting to note that De Geers photo shows an older version of the Serafimer Star.

-1868.07.29  Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 88
Width  (mm): 88
Weight(gr) : 61.1
Tracking # : S160x
Date       : 1868.07.29 awarded
Knight #   : 393

inventory number GM:1498
name - use von Scheel-Plessen, Wulff Danish owner 1868. 1868.07.29 awarded # 393
name - photographer Castex, Rodolfo
date - photography 2008-10-01 [rcx]
date - production 1850-1870 [ca]
date - acquisition for the museum 1898
privately ordered metal crash, possibly awarded to the count as a gift from the king, Carl XV, personally. Until 1871, the official collars were embroidered with silver and gold thread and had to be sewn onto the garment. This made it more difficult to use the collar on different garments, which meant that the recipient often acquired a metal collar on his own initiative and at his own expense. The practice became common from the 1820s onwards.
History: Danish Minister in Stockholm Count Wulff von Scheel-Plessen was appointed Knight of the Order of the Seraphim, (RSerafO), on 29 July 1868 on the occasion of the concluded marriage contract and engagement between the Danish Crown Prince Frederik, (King of Denmark as Frederik VIII 1906-12), and Princess Lovisa of Sweden-Norway (1851-1926). However, the insignia were presented the day before, on 28 July, after a 4 p.m. dinner at Bernsdorff Palace (King Christian IX's summer residence). Edholm writes: ‘After coffee, decorations were exchanged. The Excellency Plessen seraphim knight, Sandströmer grand cross, (Sweden's minister in Berlin), cabinet chamberlain Schildt, who had arrived at Bernsdorff, commander of 1 class, attaché Count Cronhjelm knight, all of the Dannebrogen. ’
archive reference GhmB:8623
Metal crafts: Silversmith (326.8); Status, role and prestige: Orders and medals (554.1)
literature Edholm, Edward:, ‘Från Carl XV:s dagar, minnen, brev och anteckningar’ p. 112, Stockholm 1906 [on the circumstances of the bequest of RSerafO].
length (cm) 8,8
width (cm) 8,8
weight 61,1 grams
GM :: Gothenburg Museum collections

-1871-1885  Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 77
Width  (mm): 77
Weight(gr) : 62
Tracking # : S158x
Date       : 1871-1885
Knight #   : 

inventory number GM:18115
name - acquired from Carlman, Sven [fa. C.F.Carlman, Stockholm]
name - manufacture Carlman AB, C.F. Name - photographer Castex, Rodolfo
date - photography 2008-10-22 [rcx] date - production 1871-1885 [ca] date - acquisition to the museum 1941
description kraschan model 1871- ca. 1885 when a new type without flinched cross arms was introduced. The flinching, which consists of faceted silver balls soldered in rows on the cross arms, was used to achieve a brilliant appearance, the silver balls reflecting light in a similar way to brilliants. Prior to the introduction of this type, embroidered kraschans were the only officially recognised type, they were fragile and difficult to handle and eventually gave way, even officially, to the more practical and elegant metal kraschan.
Archive reference D7919 [/neg.nr] Metal craft: Silversmith (326.8); Status, role and prestige: Orders and medals (554.1) length (cm) 7,7 width (cm) 7,7 weight 62 grams
name - copyright/copyright holder Göteborgs Stadsmuseum
married a Countess Lewenhaupt; von Scheel-Plessen was for a time the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Stockholm;
von Scheel-Plessen was made a Knight of the Order of the Seraphim on 29 July 1868 in connection with the engagement of Princess Lovisa of Sweden-Norway (1851-1926) to the then Crown Prince Frederik (VIII) of Denmark (1843-1906-1912). Princess Lovisa later became Queen of Denmark in 1906-12 and was the daughter of King Carl XV of Sweden-Norway (1826-1859-1872) and Queen Lovisa née Princess of the Netherlands (1828-1859-1871). The princess was the royal couple's only surviving child after Prince Carl Oscar (1852-54) died in infancy. The wedding was therefore perhaps particularly lavish. At the wedding ceremony in the Stockholm Palace Chapel on 28 July 1869, the whole of official Sweden was represented, including representatives of the world's most important foreign powers.

The Minister had previously received the following Swedish-Norwegian honours: Commander of the Order of the North Star in 1848, Commander with the Grand Cross of the Order of the North Star in 1849 and the Grand Cross of the Norwegian Order of St Olav in 1860.

The Gothenburg Historical Museum purchased, at an unknown date, at least before 1898, this chain of the Order of the Seraphim (GM:1497), stating that it had been worn by von Scheel-Plessen. The latest research in this area is persented in the work ‘Kungl. Serafimerorden’ Stockholm 1998, ed. (The book was published on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the Kungl. (The book was published on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the Royal Swedish Order of Knights and presents all the knights with a brief biography and shows their coat of arms as knights). There is no mention here of the county governor having received a chain to the order, which for foreigners is a special honour. Occasionally, orders and medals were awarded on the initiative of the king, and these were not always recorded and entered in the respective lists. However, it seems less likely that this was the case with the kingdom's highest honour, especially as all other awards were recorded in connection with the wedding. One could, purely speculatively, assume, on the basis of previous similar cases and circumstances, that the Count received the chain a year later, at the actual wedding in July 1869. The editor of the book has examined all available sources and registers during his work on the biographies and, in the absence of other sources, it must be assumed that the statement that the chain was worn by von Scheel-Plessen is incorrect.

-1871-1885  Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 74
Width  (mm): 74.7
Weight(gr) : 
Tracking # : S974x
Date       : 1871-1885
Knight #   : 

The Order of Seraphim was founded in Sweden in 1748. The knight's set includes: The gold and enamel jewel features seraphim set in amethyst gold, with partially burnished wings and domed centres with chased motifs (small chips). It is surmounted by a thick articulated gold crown, and is accompanied by enameled gems, a fixed ring, and a sash loop. The silver plate features chased branches in openwork diamond points, as well as seraphim and patriarchal crosses in matt silver. The gold centre is pinned in several enameled parts, and the long unmounted sash completes the piece. In a slightly later long-grained red morocco case signed by Carlman, the lid is decorated with gilded fillets (label of the Order of the Northern Star below).

The dimensions of the plate are 85.4 x 52.5 mm, and its gross weight is 37.1 g. The dimensions of the product are 74 x 74.7 mm.

This is Sweden in the mid-19th century. From TTB to TTB and SUP.

Note that the wings on the top of the Angel heads between the big arms of the body has a split at the top middle. This is normally not the case of these Stars. 

-1873  Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 79
Width  (mm): 79
Weight(gr) : 61
Tracking # : S252x
Date       : 1873
Knight #   : 

Donor: Josephine Piper née Rudbeck
Star model: 1873 for knights of the Order of the Seraphim, Sweden.
Donor: Josephine Piper née Rudbeck
DATING 1873 approximately
COLLECTION Livrustkammaren
INVENTORY NUMBER 9532 (31:24)

-1873.05.12  Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 79
Width  (mm): 79
Weight(gr) : 80
Tracking # : S008
Date       : 1873.05.12 awarded
Knight #   : 408

Carl Gøran Detlof Mørner of Morlanda 1808-78, Awarded 12.05.1873. Seraphimer knight # 408
Similar piece sold at Graf Klenau 1974 item 6921. Not identical when looking at the fixation(position) of gold ring around blue centre.

-1873   Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 90
Width  (mm): 90
Weight(gr) : 75
Tracking # : S347x
Date       : 1873 estimate
Knight #   : 

Star, similar to m:1873 for Knight of the Order of the Seraphim, Sweden.
NAMN Kungl. Majestäts Orden (KMO)
MADE IN Sweden
DATING 19th century
COLLECTION Livrustkammaren
INVENTORY NUMBER 1842 (24:52)
The reverse smooth and gilded, on the back of the medallion a box with a hinged lid, fastened on the right side, inside the box brown-black resin-like mass. Vertically placed safety pin.

Maltese cross of flinched silver, border of faceted balls. Between and partly on the arms of the cross, seraphs pressed in silver plate, screwed to the reverse.
Slightly domed medallion of light blue enamel, surmounted by three gold crowns and three spikes, and by gold and white enamel IHS and cross, double gold rim.

The reverse smooth and gilded, on the back of the medallion a box with a hinged lid on the right, inside the box a brownish-black resin-like mass. Vertically placed safety pin.

-1873   Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 80
Width  (mm): 80
Weight(gr) : 54
Tracking # : S648x
Date       : 1873 model
Knight #   : 234

Beautiful matt Seraphimer angels and also other surfaces. Superb quality for the King.
Star for the Knight of the Order of the Seraphim, Sweden, m:1873.
NAME Charles XV of Sweden-Norway
MADE IN Sweden DATING ca 1873
COLLECTION Livrustkammaren
INVENTORY NUMBER 1845 (3568:k)
MATERIAL silver gold enamel
DIMENSIONS Width: 80 mm Weight: 54 g
OBJECT IS NOT EXHIBITED

-1880   Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 84.8
Width  (mm): 85.2
Weight(gr) : 58.9
Tracking # : S346x
Date       : 1880 estimated
Knight #   : 

​

-1884.06.17   Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 57
Width  (mm): 57
Weight(gr) : 34
Tracking # : S080
Date       : 1884.06.17 awarded
Knight #   : 471

​Extremely rare. Small Grand Cross Star Prince type. I.e. A small version of the Serafimer Star used for the baptism of the new born Prince.
This was bought with other orders from Norlind in Stockholm who had several of former Prince Wilhelm of Sweden's orders. He was awarded all Swedish orders at his birth 17th June 1884.
Prince Wilhelm, Duke of Södermanland (Carl Wilhelm Ludvig; 17 June 1884 – 5 June 1965) was a Swedish and Norwegian prince.
Awarded 1884.06.17 Knight # 471

-1890-1921   Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 
Width  (mm): 
Weight(gr) : 
Tracking # : S723x
Date       : 1890-1921
Knight #   : 

​

-1890-1930   Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 83
Width  (mm): 83
Weight(gr) : 
Tracking # : S192
Date       : 1890-1930 estimated
Knight #   : 

The center globe has smaller (lower) crowns.
Due to color variations in silver this star indicates a production during1890-1900. Some were made earlier than the 'official' 1919 date. These are more yellowish in the silver.
This is also a flatter model to suit a uniform better..
Paired with s193. This comes from a family in Vienna Austria.

-1892.03.07   Serafimer Star-

Height (mm): 
Width  (mm): 
Weight(gr) : 
Tracking # : S561x
Date       : 18920307 awarded
Knight #   : 711

Accession 1900
DONOR TO MUSEUM Leijonhufvud, Carl Victor G:son (estate) SECURE
DONOR, LOCATION Sweden SAFE
ORIGINAL USER Leijonhufvud, Carl Viktor G:son awarded 1892.03.07 knight # 711
References ARCHIVAL REFERENCES Dnr ver. 12
RELATED AM.60781-3
SAMHÖRANDE AM 49334-43 Belongs to parade uniform for officer, lieutenant general, field marshal and chief of artillery
No hallmarks on the reverse. Owner: Armemuseet

-1894   Serafimer Star-

Height (mm):
Width  (mm): 
Weight(gr) : 
Tracking # : S216x
Date       : 1894 hallmark
Knight #   : 

This is produced by Panoptikon in Stockholm and hallmarked 1894. Panoptikon was owned by jeweller Christian Hammer who was a former supplier to the King. Offered from Strandberg.

-1890s   Serafimer Star-

Height (mm):
Width  (mm): 
Weight(gr) : 
Tracking # : S816x
Date       : 1890s estimated
Knight #   : 

-1890s   Serafimer Star-

Height (mm):
Width  (mm): 
Weight(gr) : 
Tracking # : S815x
Date       : 1890s estimated
Knight #   : 

This has a lot better quality - and better photo than the previous S816x. This actually turned up today in a search on internet - with little information. If you click on the image of this and the S815x then you see this has small dots behind the blue enamel whereas the other has short dotted lines in smae direction. If anyone have more information to these types please let me know.