Georg Jensen King's Mark in Sterling Silver for buttonhole.
Years 1870-1945. - 2.5x2 cm.
During the years of occupation 1940-45, the King's Emblem - or the King's Mark - as it is most often called, became almost everyone's property. Worn as a buttonhole decoration, it expressed loyalty to the king and patriotism, and at the same time it was a visible expression of a quiet protest against the German occupying power.
The small badge, produced in both gold and sterling silver versions, measured 24mm in height and 14mm in width and was topped with a royal crown.
The emblem's plate was shaped like a Dannebrog flag as a background for King Christian X's initials.
Below were the numbers 1870 (the King's birth year) and 1940, when the King turned 70.
On the copies that were produced from and including the King's 75th birthday in 1945, the last-mentioned number was changed to 1945.
The occasion for the appearance of the emblem was Christian X's 70th birthday on 26 September 1940, just over five months after the German occupation of Denmark.
As a prelude to this event, a national collection was launched for a public gift, the profits of which were to go into the King Christian the Tenth Fund to support disease-fighting and cultural purposes.
To support the collection, Georg Jensen Sølvsmedie decided in the summer of 1940, with the King's permission, to start production of the King's Emblem, which was to be put on sale through the country's goldsmith shops.
The profit from the sale was to go to the King Christian the Tithe Foundation.
Item number: GJ Kongemærke 1890-1945
