Order of St. Sylvester, Knight

SKU: 01.VAT.0105.107.01

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Estimated market value:

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Attributes

country

Vatican
date of institution

October 31, 1841
makers

Tanfani and Bertarelli, Rome
remarks

The company Tanfani and Bertarelli from Rome is the Vatican’s official manufacturer of Orders and decorations from 1905 onward. There are also some examples of earlier Knighthood awards, which date prior to 1905, that feature the marks “A. Tanfani” or “Tanfani.” The company name was changed after 1967 to Ditta Augusto Casazza, and they continue to be the modern supplier of the Supreme Order of Christ, the Order of the Golden Militia, the Order of Pius IX, the Order of St. Gregory the Great, and the Order of St. Sylvester.

History

This Order was founded to compensate for the degradation of the Order of the Golden Militia. Amendments were made to the Order of the Golden Militia in 1841 that restricted the number of members, and these new statutes were the foundation of the Order of St. Sylvester. In 1905, Pope Pius X reorganized the Holy See’s honours and divided the Order of the Golden Militia into two separate Orders, the Order of St. Sylvester and the Order of the Golden Militia/Golden Spur.

The Order of St. Sylvester is awarded by the Pope to Catholics who are actively involved in the everyday activities of the church. It is also conferred upon individuals who have rendered professional and civil service in the realm of art, science, and literature that have benefited the church. The modern Order may also be awarded to non-Catholic recipients and women.

The Order is composed of four grades, Grand Cross with Grand Cross Breast Star, Grand Officer with Grand Officer Breast Star, Commander, and Knight.

Recipients are bestowed with a prefix after being emitted into the Order, with Knight for men and Dame for women.

See Order of the Golden Militia VAT101 in the Orders of the Vatican for more information.