Tallinn Museum of Orders of Knighthood
Tallinna rüütliordude muuseum
EstablishedJanuary 2017
LocationKuninga 3, Old Town, 10146 Tallinn, Estonia
TypeHistory museum
Websitehttps://tallinnmuseum.com/

The Tallinn Museum of Orders of Knighthood (Estonian: Tallinna Rüütliordude Muuseum) is a private museum of history and culture in Tallinn, Estonia.[1] The main focus of the museum is the history of orders of knighthood and merit from all over the world. The museum is located in a historical medieval building at Kuninga 3 in Tallinn Old Town, and the permanent exhibition consists of close to a thousand original costumes, collars, stars, badges and other items related to orders of knighthood with the oldest exhibits dating to the beginning of the 18th century.[2]

History

The opening of the museum took place in January 2017.[3] A medieval merchant's house in Tallinn Old Town – contemporary to some of the oldest orders of knighthood in the museum – was chosen as the location.

In September 2017, Tallinn Museum of Orders of Knighthood hosted the XI European Conference of Phaleristic Societies.[4] Conference materials were published by the museum in 2018.[5]

Specialized exhibitions held by the museum include Jewels of Freemasonry (2020),[6] Treasures from King Street (2020),[7] 100 years of the Order of the Estonian Red Cross (2019); 800th Anniversary of the Order of the Dannebrog (2019), Orders of Estonia - an Integral Symbol of Independence (2018).

Collection

Order of St Alexander Nevsky with diamonds, awarded by Nicholas II of Russia to future French president Paul Deschanel; gold, silver, 840 diamonds, enamel

The museum presents the history of orders and awards through the centuries, focusing above all on the beauty and craftsmanship of the badges as ’wearable awards’, especially when it comes to the diamond studded pieces. The permanent exhibition is presented in three halls covering the history of orders and the awarding system and its significance in Europe, the Americas, Africa, and the Far East. The beauty of the orders with their various symbolic distinctions and especially ribbon colours are often strongly connected to their national or principal identity. Another subject of the exhibition are the most beautiful and exquisite cases in which the badges, stars and collars are presented.

Many older orders have interesting origin stories, which are based both in fact and in fiction. Such as the Danish Order of the Dannebrog, which is closely tied with Tallinn through the Battle of Lyndanisse; the Japanese Order of the Sacred Treasures, which refers to the time when Japan received its first Emperor; the Order of the Garter, allegedly named for a ladies garter which fell to the floor during a ball; and the most romantic order of them all – the Order of the Rose of the Empire of Brazil, with its motto For Love and Fidelity (Portuguese: Amor e Fidelidade).

In 2021 the basic exhibition of the museum was completely renewed to better present a clearer difference between grand orders in one grade and orders of merit in several grades and their evolution into today's awarding system. Additionally, the collection was divided into subject themes, such as exclusive military orders for bravery on the battlefield and orders for military and civil services awarded in peace time. Orders exclusively for ladies, a tradition dating back to the 17th century, are presented in two separate showcases. Separately presented are orders and awards for Science and Art and Red Cross decorations.

The exhibition also includes original robes of such orders as the Bavarian Order of St George, the English Order of the Garter, the Maltese Order and others.

Showcase with the badge of the Order of the White Eagle presented in 1712 to Peter the Great of Russia by the founder of the order – Augustus the Strong, Peter's ally in the Great Northern War. Gold, silver, enamel, diamonds

Some of the most significant exhibits in the museum are the badge of the Polish Order of the White Eagle that belonged to Russian Emperor Peter the Great,[8] the neck badge of the Austrian Order of the Golden Fleece worn by chancellor Klemens von Metternich, the badge of the Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky presented to French president Paul Deschanel, the Order of the Starry Cross which belonged to Empress Charlotte of Mexico.[3]

Work with the community

The museum supports young collectors. In 2018 the museum took an active part in the International Philatelic Exhibition in Tallinn, presenting its own prize for Best Exhibit by Young Collectors.[9][10]

The museum has a fully equipped Scientific Laboratory. It supports future young scientists and curators with its annual summer programme.[11]

The museum offers guided tours tailored to the specific audience. There is a special educational programme aimed at children.[12]

Research and publications

There have been several publications about the museum in the Bulletin Société des Amis du Musée de la Légion D'honneur Orders et Distinctions, France;[13] Numismaatikko, Finland;[14] Svensk Numismatisk Tidskrift, Sweden;[15] Eesti Ajalugu, Estonia,[16] and others. The museum was featured of the Estonian TV Programme Herald's Stories,[17] ETV+ Morning Programme[18] and others.

Publications

  • TALLINN MUSEUM OF ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD – A SHORT HISTORY OF ORDERS FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE MUSEUM A short guide to the Tallinn Museum of Orders of Knighthood, with photographs of the insignia displayed at the museum and short information on the orders. In 4 languages: Estonian, Russian, English, Finnish.
  • ESTONIAN RED CROSS 100 EXHIBITION CATALOGUE. In 3 languages: Estonian, Russian, English.
  • MATERIALS OF THE XI EUROPEAN CONFERENCE OF PHALERISTIC SOCIETIES. In English.[5]
The Ceremonial Robes of the Order of St George (Bavaria). Early 19th century. Velvet, satin, silk, silver thread, ostrich feathers

Articles by the museum's researchers are also published in scientific publications[19] and on the museum's website.[20]

References

  1. ↑ "Heeroldi jutud: Kuninga tänavalt leiab maailma vanimad ordenid". Pealinn.ee. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  2. ↑ "Collection". Tallinn Museum of Orders of Knighthood. 2018-07-24. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  3. 1 2 ERR, Anna Aurelia Minev | (2017-01-21). "Galerii: avati Rüütliordude muuseum". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  4. ↑ "Esileht". Pealinn.ee. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  5. 1 2 Materials of the XI European Conference of Phaleristic Societies. Catherine Lapinsh, Tallinna Rüütliordude Muuseum (First Printing ed.). 2018. ISBN 978-9934-552-83-0. OCLC 1040599599.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. ↑ "В Таллиннском музее рыцарских орденов открылась выставка "Таинство масонской символики"". Turist. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  7. ↑ tallinnmuseum (2020-01-24). "Treasures from King Street". Tallinn Museum of Orders of Knighthood. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  8. ↑ Gavrilova, Li︠u︡dmila Mikhaĭlovna (2019). Foreign orders of the Russian emperors in the collection of the Moscow Kremlin Museums. Catherine Lapinsh. Moscow. ISBN 978-5-88678-350-6. OCLC 1246250218.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  9. ↑ Lapinsh, Catherine (2018-07-24). "Tallinn Museum Supports Young Collectors". Tallinn Museum of Orders of Knighthood. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  10. ↑ Elmo. "13.-15.07 – International Philatelic Exhibition EstEx 2018. Postal stationery and special cancellation – filateelia.ee". Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  11. ↑ Lapinsh, Catherine (2019-08-27). "Summer Internship at the Tallinn Museum". Tallinn Museum of Orders of Knighthood. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  12. ↑ "For Schools". Tallinn Museum of Orders of Knighthood. 2018-12-06. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  13. ↑ "XI European Conference". Ordres et Distinctions. 20/2017.
  14. ↑ Bergroth, Tom C. "Talinnan Kunniamerkkimuseo". Numismaatikko. 1/2021: 6–7.
  15. ↑ Bergroth, Tom C. "Ett nytt Ordensmuseum i Reval". Svensk Numismatisk Tidskrift. May/2021: 85–87.
  16. ↑ "ORDUDEST ORDENITENI: aumärgid arenesid välja ordude tunnusmärkidest | Ajalugu". ajalugu.ohtuleht.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  17. ↑ "VIDEO! Heeroldi jutud: Kuninga tänavalt leiab maailma vanimad ordenid". Pealinn.ee. 2021-05-10. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  18. ↑ В Таллинне открылся уникальный музей наград и орденов, retrieved 2021-06-04
  19. ↑ Stranicy istorii otečestvennogo iskusstva : technologičeskie issledovanija v oblasti numizmatiki : kruglyj stol 16-17 oktjabrja 2018 goda. Evgenija Nikolaevna Petrova, Michail Borisovič ca./21. Jh Asvarišč, Евгения Николаевна Петрова, Михаил Борисович Асварищ, Gosudarstvennyj russkij muzej. Sankt-Peterburg. 2019. ISBN 978-5-93332-647-2. OCLC 1235888996.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
  20. ↑ "Research and Publications". Tallinn Museum of Orders of Knighthood. 2018-07-24. Retrieved 2021-06-04.

59°26′11″N 24°44′44″E / 59.43640°N 24.74554°E / 59.43640; 24.74554

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