Early "tented" breast stars of the White Eagle order made by Eduard workshop in 1906-1910 /ИЛ/

Early breast stars from 1906-1910 time period (a.k.a. "tented"/"шатровые" or "sharp"/"острые") marked IL /ИЛ/.

On January 31, 1906, Russian Imperial Kapitul signed first contract with the Eduard workshop for the manufacturing of Russian Imperial orders. Officially approved form for the breast stars had tented (шатровая) shape with sharp ends of rays (this form was new and slightly different from usual breast star that were manufactured by the previous Kapitul supplier - Keibel workshop). The tented form of the order stars lasted only for four years until February 4, 1910 when Kapitul sent a letter No. 142 to the Eduard workshop. The reason for the letter was the numerous complaints of the cavaliers about the need to change the shape of the rays of the order breast stars, which with their pointed ends spoiled clothes and sometimes even scratched their hands. Therefore Kapitul proposed to change the shape of the breast stars and make them with rounded rays. Firm "Eduard" agreed with the suggestion of Kapitul and subsequently began to produce breast stars from thicker silver plates (which increased the weight of the stars) and with rounded rays.

Breast star from 1904-1908 time period.

Silver, gilt, enamel.
Size 90 x 88 mm.
Weight 56 g.
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Marked with the maker's mark "И•Л" (personal mark of workshop jeweler Johann Gustavovich Linstead/Иоганн Густавович Линстед active until 1910), "Эдуардъ/Eduard" and St. Petersburg assay office silver hallmark "84, kokoshnik facing left, AR /AР/ for the Alexander Romanov /Александр Васильевич Романов/ assay district manager".

Marks.