A collection of Civil Decorations contained in an antique box awarded to Baron James Mayer de Rothschild (1792-1868), by nations and governments in recognition of banking and financial services undertaken by the French House of Rothschild to sovereign clients.
Decorations identified include:
- Order of the Medjidie (Turkey)
- Order of St Vladimir (Russia)
- Order of St Stanislaus (Russia)
- Legion d’honneur (France)
- Order of the Iron Crown (Austria)
- Order of the Tower and Sword (Portugal)
- Order of St Anna (Russia)
- Order of the Red Eagle (Prussia)
- Order of the Golden Lion (Hesse-Kassel)
- Order of Leopold (Belgium)
- Order of Isabella the Catholic (Spain)
- Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III (Spain)
- Order of the Crown of Italy (Italy)
- Order of the Saints Maurice and Lazarus (Vatican/Italy)
James, founder of the French banking house. was in Paris from the age of 19, co-ordinating the purchase of specie and bullion for his brother Nathan (1777-1836) in London. Originally trading as J M Rothschild, James changed the name of the firm to de Rothschild Frères with himself and his brothers, Amschel (1773-1855), Salomon (1774-1855), Nathan (1777-1836) and Carl (1788-1855) as partners. By 1823 the Paris House was firmly established as banker to the French government. After the death of Nathan in 1836, James took over the reins of the family firm and became the trusted adviser of ministers and kings. The Paris House continued to fund many loans to European governments, and developed new business including investment in raw materials, railway construction and manufacturing industries.
