Belongs to Livrustkammaren.
Deposited 1926-04-13 from Statens Historiska Museum.
Gift from HRH Crownprincess Lovisa of Denmark.
The star was used by King Oscar I.
Front picture in color taken by the author when it was exhibited at KMO Stockholm in April 2006.

Black and white photo by Livrustkammaren.
Color photo from KMO exhibition 2006.

INVENTORY NUMBER 686 (24:271:a)

Estimate: 1.000,00 € Surcharge: 800,00 €
Royal Norwegian Saint Olavs Order [Kongelige Norsk St. Olavsorden]. 1st model (in the cross angles monograms of King Oskar I - 1847-1906), breast star commander cross 1st class [Kommandørkors 1st class Stjerne], 2nd version (with brilliant cross arms - from about 1860), production of the company Christian Hammer in Stockholm between 1872 and 1882, silver brilliant and reperciert, gold monograms finely chased and laid separately by means of staples, medallion overlay gold, tlw enamelled, on needle. BWK3 77. RR II
Christian Hammer in Stockholm delivered order insignia between 1872 and 1882, which clearly differed from those of the suppliers Carlman and Tostrup in design as well as execution. According to Hallberg (in HNO p. 36), only 138 awards were made by the commander's cross (1872) Commander's Cross 1st Class (1873-1882).

Estimate: 1.000,00 € Surcharge: 800,00 €
Royal Norwegian Saint Olavs Order [Kongelige Norsk St. Olavsorden]. 1st model (in the cross angles monograms of King Oskar I - 1847-1906), breast star commander cross 1st class [Kommandørkors 1st class Stjerne], 2nd version (with brilliant cross arms - from about 1860), production of the company Christian Hammer in Stockholm between 1872 and 1882, silver brilliant and reperciert, gold monograms finely chased and laid separately by means of staples, medallion overlay gold, tlw enamelled, on needle. BWK3 77. RR II
Christian Hammer in Stockholm delivered order insignia between 1872 and 1882, which clearly differed from those of the suppliers Carlman and Tostrup in design as well as execution. According to Hallberg (in HNO p. 36), only 138 awards were made by the commander's cross (1872) Commander's Cross 1st Class (1873-1882).

Almost identical to N292x. The difference is that the gold Os are fixed differently in the back.

Order of St Olav
PLACE OF PUBLICATION Norway
USER Huss, Magnus
ACCESSION 1891
DONOR TO MUSEUM Bergenstråhle, Lotten
DONOR TO THE MUSEUM Huss, Lotten
St Olav Commanders of the First Class.'
Norwegian and Swedish.
1857 d. 21 Aug., Magnus Huss, K. m. st. k. N. O.

Probus Autions item 221 in sale Apriil 2013 in Stockholm Sweden for the top set. This has a beautiful patina and looks smashing. 

The order ended up in another auction later on and then it had been very nicely cleaned and looks like a fantastic item to be woarn on a uniform. Looking at the two reverses one see more clearly that the dark spots on the top one can be found on the lower example. And clearly the pin has the same damage. 
Peronally I would probably would have kept the patinated version even though I like to have orders in a nice state and properly cleaned. 

Similar 1862 awarded N360x

 

Ericsson, John (1803 - 1889).  A pioneering figure in the field of propeller technology and armoured ship construction, Ericsson gained national hero status in the United States. However, his roots lay in Sweden, where he received his initial training in the construction of the Göta Canal. He was honoured with the Commander 2nd Class of the Norwegian Order of St. Olav on 12 November 1864. The badge, crafted in silver, features a four-armed Maltese cross, with the name "Oscar II" inscribed in a cipher, a gilded lion within a white-blue-white frame, and a gilded relief frame.

Interesting Os on the star. Needs some investigation and update. Never seen that version elsewhere.

Interesting with a split tail on the central lion.  A new version as well. 

Breast Star, 71 mm, diamond cut Silver, gilt Royal Monograms and enameled center medallion, reverse with thin double pin
Ex-The Numismatic Gallery Ltd, London

230291A Nordic Museum

FORMER OWNER Carl Oscar Troilius

1881 Swedish Statskalender [95] Kongl. Styrelsen för Statens Jernvägstrafik.

Director General and Head, Carl Oscar Troilius,

K. m. st. k. N. O.

K. W. 0. l:a kl.

K. S:t O. O. l. cl., (16 June 1871)

E. R. S:t St. O. 1st cl.

K. D. D. O. 1st gr.

K. Fr. H. L

Inneh. Turk. Medj. O. 3rd class

L. K. V. A., f. 13; 63.

62
Closed crowns on the Os.

This version has a good look to it and is little worn. If you look at the third photo of the gold O then you see there are 4 cross arms, two on each side.  They are fixed to the central posts at both ends. As you can see on this page the 2 and 1 version is much more common. Also the two long pins on the reverse is of a more delicate look. ending the spikes in two soft curves.  Very nice! 

Of course all these old orders are hand made so there will always be small details that will vary.  

This version have punctured holes throughout the large silver arms. The Gold Os between the silver arms are more clean with the 3,5 crossbars in. the middle section.  The top crowns of the Os have open holes through the crowns. 

Inventory number GM:19104
Norwegian Order of St Olav (see also N282x)Name - acquired from Lundberg, Sven
Name - Use Lindstrand, Frans Theodor
Date - acquired by the museum in 1947
History:The Order of St Olav was established by King Oscar I of Sweden and Norway in 1847, mainly to meet Norwegian demands for a separate order, which had been discussed since the early 1820s. The Order of St Olav is a prestigious award that recognises outstanding contributions to society. It is divided into various dignities, including Grand Cross with Chain, which is a special honour for Norwegian citizens, Grand Cross, Commander with Star (1st class), Commander, Knight of the First Class and Knight. These honours are bestowed upon individuals who have demonstrated exceptional civic merit and services to humanity.The Norwegian State Calendar provides a comprehensive list of Orders, accompanied by the reason for each award. The ribbon is red with white-blue-white borders.Since the establishment of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit in 1985, the Order of St Olav has been awarded very sparingly and mainly to Norwegian citizens.The Order was first created in 1882 and its appearance was fundamentally changed in 1906 when Norway became an independent kingdom. The badge was changed to a more angular design, perceived as more Norwegian (Old Norse). The four crowned Anglo-Saxon O's, placed between the arms of the cross, were changed from commemorating the founder, Oscar I, to Olav the Holy by four square O's crowned by a medieval open crown. The original closed version was replaced with a new one, worn by the envoy Frans Theodor Lindstrand, who was appointed Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St Olav 1st class on 5 March 1873, before Oscar II's coronation.
Country of origin: Norway
Country of acquisition: Sweden
Metal craft: Silversmith (326.8)
Status, role and prestige: Orders and medals (554.1) Width (cm) 6.8 Height (cm) 6.8 Weight (g) 51 grams
Gothenburg City Museum

Must be jeweller Hammer. A little more air to the O’s on this one. A very nice star.
The Commander Star shown here is from eMedals.com in colour and in the original box of jeweller Christian hammer.  Below is data from the Livrustkammaren in Stockholm who has an identical Star.  However only black and white picture from them. 

Star for Commander of the Norwegian Order of St Olav, modelled between 1873 and 1905.
NAME Donor: C F Carlman
OTHER KEYWORDS badge of the order clasp commander
COLLECTION Livrustkammaren
INVENTORY NUMBER 731 (24:290)

 Jeweller Tostrup in Oslo produced this type  from 1882 to 1905. Everything in the period 1882-1890 were poduced with gold Os between the arms of the star.  However there are histories saying  that in 1890 they started to produce Knight 2 of silver.  This was a harder material than the gold and some of the moulds cracked.  So in order to have working moulds they had to be improved to do silver Knight 2s.  You see this on the Knight 1s.  Before 1890 they were thicker and more artistic.  After 1890 they became thinner, both the types of Knights. They are thinner and flatter. 

Note that the Os on this one exhibits a nice swing towards the center in the lower part. 

 

Note that the Os on this one exhibits no nice swing towards the center in the lower part. 

King Oscar II Commander Star - An Unofficial Variation and unique item. A King Oscar II variant of the Commander Star, hallmarked "J. Tostrup - Kristiania" (pre-1905), but with a Coat of Arms (the Norwegian Lion) in the centre medallion as used for King Haakon VII (post-1906). The star is believed to be a reissue or a specimen/prototype from around 1904/1905.

Following the death of a member, the insignia of the Order are required to be returned to the Chancery. The insignia are then normally refurbished by the Court Jeweller with new ribbon and case of issue before being reissued to a new member of the Order.

Consequently, it is plausible that the Oscar II version was refurbished and reissued between 1908 and 1910, bearing the updated 1906 Coat of Arms, as has been suggested by some experts. The star could also have been a specimen/prototype by Court Jeweller J. Tostrup. If this is the case, then the Commander Star was not a version officially approved by the Chancery of the Order. It is likely to be unique, suggesting that Court Jeweler Tostrup was experimenting with new versions of the Order, a practice that was later confirmed by the new official issue of 1906.

Measurements: 77 mm (h) x 77 mm 

The case: 
What is interesting is that the case will not accommodate a GC star, nor the pre 1906 Commander Star. They are just slightly too big. However the 1906 Commander Star fits perfectly.
I have not seen the print of the very large crown in the Tostrup name under the lid before. Maybe this is the case presented to foreigners awarded the Star, based on size it could be from 1905 perhaps until 1910 etc. 

The neck cross exquisitely wrought in gold by the manufacturer J. Tostrup of Kristiania, the manufacturer's mark ("J.T.") and the mark of fineness ("750") stamped in the suspension ring. The gold components re-cut, the blue enamelled swords soldered on the upper cross arm. The motto of the order "RET OG SANDHED" (Justice and Truth) inscribed on the back. Width 61 mm. Weight 33 g. Comes with the breast star worked in silver (the faceting chiselled by hand), with the manufacturer's signet for Tostrups, on a double attachment pin. The medallion and name ciphers rendered in gold, enamelled in various colours, some translucent. Width 76.2 mm. Weight 54.2 g.

Together with the neck ribbon in the Norwegian manufacturer's presentation case. This order set of the first standard model, issued until 1906, with the Anglo-Saxon "O"s (for King Oscar I) between the cross arms, was awarded to Sea Captain Jacobsen in 1905, immediately following the cessation of the personal union with Sweden, by King Haakon VII, and may be considered an exceptional rarity as a military decoration "with Swords".

 This model was used after 1906-1958 apart from the Spink model during WWII.

Please note that this shown version carries the name of Kristiania which was the name of Oslo until 1924.

From 1925 the name was Oslo.  Until 1930 the silver arms of the star's body carried pinholes as this one. From 1930 the pinholes disappeared.

For this short period of 5 years, when it was hallmarked Oslo and carried pinholes, there were 350 Commander stars awarded.  How many was produced??  Nobody knows.  For sure the ones with pinholes and name Oslo are not so very common.  

Jeweller Chobillion in Paris made a catalogue in 1912 of what he produced of orders.  

It seems like the catalogue is showing the originals and then he produced something that was looking a bit like the originals. 

This Commander Star  is said to be made by jeweller Chobillion in Paris.