1st-class Star of the Order of St Stanislaus

King Stanislaus August Poniatowski established the Order of Saint Stanislaus in 1765. After the fall of the November Uprising (1831), it was incorporated into Russian orders and took the last place in the hierarchy of importance. After Poland regained independence, it was not re-established due to its destruction and degradation. The Order had a cross, a star and a ribbon. The presented star belonged to General Franciszek Dzierżykraj-Morawski (1783-1861), who received the Legion of Honour and the Military Order of Virtuti Militari for his military record, including for taking part in Napoleon's expedition to Moscow. From 1829, he was also a Knight of the 1st Class Order of Saint Stanislaus with Star. The eight-beam star of the Order was made following the pattern introduced in 1815 by Tsar Alexander I. It is massive, made entirely of silver with wavy rays and fastened with a safety pin. The laurel wreath bears the motto of the Order PRAEMIANDO INCITAT (Rewarding encourages). In the central shield, on a round badge, there is a stylised royal monogram SAR (Stanislaus Augustus Rex). The star was worn on the left breast, pinned to the uniform. Two signs, an anchor and the letter H, were minted on a solid safety pin clasp. The anchor is the signature of the famous and valued Warsaw goldsmith's workshop of Karol Filip Malcz (1797-1867), while the meaning of the letter has not been deciphered. Usually, the decorated people made themselves more stars and wore them with different clothes. Morawski ordered the second star of the Order after 1831 when the Order of Saint Stanislaus was Russian decoration and changed its appearance.

Genowefa Horoszko