Christian IV’s Order of the Elephant combined with the Order of the Armed Arm

One of a kind Elephant.
Gold, table-cut diamonds, enamel.

Details.

Tower bears Christian IV engraved portrait.

Christian IV was the King of Denmark and Norway from 1588; crowned in 1596. Son of Frederik II and Sophie of Mecklenburg. His reign of 59 years, 330 days is the longest of Danish monarchs and Scandinavian monarchies.

 

On the elephant’s cloth the Danish Order of the Armed Arm /den Væbnede Arms Orden/ can be seen.

Order of the Armed Arm was a Danish order of chivalry, instituted by Christian IV of Denmark. The order was bestowed for the first and only time on December 2, 1616, at the great celebrations that took place in Kolding, on the occasion of the enfeoffment of Slesvig to the King's nephew, Frederick III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp. Although this was the first time the order came into use, it is assumed that it was created to celebrate the happy outcome of the Kalmar War. The twelve men knighted were all noblemen who had distinguished themselves during the war.

Anders Bille, Rittmester in the war; Rigsråd 1616, swore the oath as Rigsråd at the knighting in Kolding.
Christen Friis, Captain of Foot, Quartermaster, Military Governor; Chancellor of the Realm 1616, Rigsråd 1616, swore the oath in Kolding.
Jørgen Lunge, Colonel of Foot; Rigsmarsk. 1616, Rigsråd 1616, swore the oath in Kolding.
Marqvardt Pentz, Rittmester; Landråd in Holsten, Amtmann of Segeberg.
Breide Rantzau (1556-1618), Rigsråd 1581, Statholder of Copenhagen.
Ditlev Rantzau, Hofmarskal, and as such Rittmester of the Life Guards (Kongens Hoffane); Landråd in Holsten, Amtmann of Steinburg and Southern Dithmarschen.
Gert Rantzau, Colonel of Foot; Statholder of Slesvig and Holsten (brother of Breide Rantzau).
Anders Sincklar, Captain of Foot; Colonel of Foot, lensherre (became Rigsråd 1617).
Ulrik Sandberg, Rittmester before, during, and after the Kalmar war.
Jens Sparre, Generalvagtmester; Lensherre of Christianstad.
Albret Skeel, Rittmester; Admiral of the Realm 1616, Rigsråd 1616, swore the oath in Kolding.
Jørgen Skeel, Lieutenant of Horse; Rittmester (brother of the above).​

All badges of the order most likely were manufactured and awarded in 1617 (since two known badges both bear this year).
After that occasion, no new knights of the order were made.
In 1634 Christian IV offers the two remaining knights (Christen Friis and Albret Skeel) to exchange their Orders of the Armed Arm for the Orders of the Elephant.

Specimen from the Royal Danish Collection (Rosenborg Castle).

Gold, enamel, diamonds.
Size 71 х 68 mm.

On display.

 

Second known specimen of the order from the collection of Museum of National History (Frederiksborg Castle).

 

Somewhere around 1670-71 court jeweler Paul Kurtz made three new "prototype" specimens with Christian V's monogram. This clearly indicates that at some point reviving of the order was planning.
Currently these "prototypes" are in Royal Danish Collection (Rosenborg Castle).

 

On display together with Frederik II’s Order of the Elephant https://asiamedals.info/threads/ord...80-for-the-king-frederik-ii-of-denmark.25476/