The "Kapitel" - decorations of the Oldenburg House Order

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The "Kapitel" - decorations of the Oldenburg House Order

As every order the Oldenburg House and Merit Order of Duke Peter Friedrich Ludwig hat a so called "Kapitel" - the "committee" responsible for all order matters. Those members wore for there time being in this "Kapitel" a special decoration. Members could be bearer of a higher grade even so wearing a lower committee decoration. Only persons in duty for the state of Oldenburg were eligible to become a member of the "Kapitel". Decorations that were made in Gold until were made from 1903 on in Silver gilt. The order statues from November 27, 1838, issued the following "Kapitularzeichen" (Committee decorations):

Class:	Description:
Kapitel - Großkreuz (Committee - Grand Cross)	Golden Medallion with golden Crown. Limited to 2 members. Also be worn by the Grand master of the order (The duke himself) the Grand Prior (The prince after becoming 18 years of age). The annual income for those members were 1600 Mark since 1892. Between 1839 and 1918 15 decorations were delivered to the "Ordenskanzlei" (orders chancellery).
Kapitel - Großkomthur (Committee - Grand Commander)	Golden Medallion with Silver Crown. Limited to 2 members. The annual income for those members were 1200 Mark since 1892. Between 1839 and 1918 5 decorations were delivered to the "Ordenskanzlei" (orders chancellery).
Kapitel - Komthur (Committee - Commander)	Golden Medallion. Limited to 4 members. The annual income for those members were 900 Mark since 1892. Between 1839 and 1918 7 decorations were delivered to the "Ordenskanzlei" (orders chancellery).
Kapitel - Ritterkreuz (Committee - Knight Cross)	Silver Medallion. Limited to 8 members. The annual income for those members were 600 Mark since 1892. Between 1839 and 1918 15 decorations were delivered to the "Ordenskanzlei" (orders chancellery). Until 1860 this grade was named "Kapitular - Kleinkreuz (Committee - Small Cross). The "Ordenssekretär" (Secretary) and the "Ordensrentmeister" (financial Secretary) were automatically wearing this grade due to their function. A member in this grade would receive automatically the knight cross of the house order, if he wouldn't be a bearer of a higher grade of the house order.

All classes are extremely rare.

The early manufactured decorations are always from highest jewelers quality. Always check for a two colored gold. Highlighted parts in red and lower parts are in dull yellow Gold. Metal parts underneath translucid enamel are hand engraved. The hanger taking the ring between crown and medallion is finely detailed by hand engraving.
	Here a detail picture from the site. Also here you can see the two colored gold.