A necklet is a type of decoration which is designed to be worn and displayed around a person's

neck The neck is the part of the body in many vertebrates that connects the head to the torso. It supports the weight of the head and protects the nerves that transmit sensory and motor information between the brain and the rest of the body. Addition ...

, rather than hung (draped) from the

chest The thorax (: thoraces or thoraxes) or chest is a part of the anatomy of mammals and other tetrapod animals located between the neck and the abdomen. In insects, crustaceans, and the extinct trilobites, the thorax is one of the three main di ...

as is the standard practice for displaying most decorations. In the Middle Ages most order's insignias were worn on a collar – see

livery collar A livery collar or chain of office is a collar (jewelry), collar or heavy Link chain, chain, usually of gold, worn as insignia of office or a mark of fealty or other association in Europe from the Middle Ages onwards. One of the oldest and best- ...

. Later, in the 16th century the insignia of the French

Order of the Holy Spirit The Order of the Holy Spirit (; sometimes translated into English as the Order of the Holy Ghost) is a French order of chivalry founded by Henry III of France in 1578. Today, it is a dynastic order under the House of France. It should not be c ...

were worn on a ribbon. When, in the late 17th century, orders were divided into several classes, the cross on a ribbon around the neck became the privilege of a commander. A decoration in that rank is usually awarded to high-ranking officials like brigadiers, consuls and secretaries of State. A woman usually wears her commander's cross on a bow on the shoulder of her dress. In chivalric orders like the

Order of Malta The Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM), officially the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, and commonly known as the Order of Malta or the Knights of Malta, is a Catholic Church, Cathol ...

or the

Teutonic Order The Teutonic Order is a religious order (Catholic), Catholic religious institution founded as a military order (religious society), military society in Acre, Israel, Acre, Kingdom of Jerusalem. The Order of Brothers of the German House of Sa ...

the insignia of the knights is worn hanging from a ribbon around the neck. The same is true of the

Order of the Golden Fleece The Distinguished Order of the Golden Fleece (, ) is a Catholic order of chivalry founded in 1430 in Brugge by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, to celebrate his marriage to Isabella of Portugal, Duchess of Burgundy, Isabella of Portugal. T ...

."Orders medals and decorations of Britain and Europe", Paul Hieronymussen, London 1967 In the 19th century it was not unusual to wear a Grand Cross, normally hanging from a ribbon over the shoulder to the hip as on a necklet when this was considered more convenient or when another Grand Cross was worn.

Select list of badges suspended from neck riband

Some nations confer honors which are signified in the form of a badge which is worn suspended from a

ribbon A ribbon or riband is a thin band of material, typically cloth but also plastic or sometimes metal, used primarily as decorative binding and tying. Cloth ribbons are made of natural materials such as silk, cotton, and jute and of synthetic mate ...

(also known as riband or ribband) around the neck, including:

Notes

References

* Duckers, Peter. (2004). ''British orders and decorations.'' Princes Risborough : Shire. ; * Paul Hieronymussen, Paul and Christine Crowley. (1967). ''Orders, medals and decorations of Britain and Europe.'' London: Blandford Press. * McCreery, Christopher. 2005). ''The Order of Canada: Its Origins, History and Development.'' Toronto:

University of Toronto Press The University of Toronto Press is a Canadian university press. Although it was founded in 1901, the press did not actually publish any books until 1911. The press originally printed only examination books and the university calendar. Its first s ...

. ; * Peterson, James W., Barry C. Weaver and Michael A. Quigley. (2001). ''Orders and Medals of Japan and Associated States.'' San Ramon, California: Orders and Medals Society of America. ;

External links

Collars of Orders of Knighthood and Livery Collars
{{DEFAULTSORT:Neck Order Award items Neckwear Medals Sashes

Select list of badges suspended from neck riband

See also

Notes

References

External links