Berlin chain of office

The Berlin chains of office were official signs of the members of the magistrate, city councilors and district heads. The "order for all cities of the Prussian monarchy" of November 19, 1808, with which a uniform constitution for the Prussian cities was created, prescribed in § 208 the wearing of official signs. The first drafts of official signs were made as early as 1809. In the following decades the official signs (chains with medals) for the Prussian cities with basic iconographic details such as the depiction of the respective city arms, the text “ Friedrich Wilhelm III. / King of Prussia / Founder of the City Order ”and the year“ MDCCCVIII ”. The magistrates and city councilors were to receive gold chains with gold medals, while silver chains and medals were provided for the district leaders. In Berlin the official signs were not made until 1844. However, gold-plated silver chains and medals were made here for the members of the magistrate and city councilors. The goldsmith Johann George Hossauer received the order to manufacture the chains, and the medal minting goes back to Karl Fischer.

literature

• Secret State Archives of Prussian Cultural Heritage : HA Rep. 89 Secret Civil Cabinet No. 14153, Fol. 84-86
• Secret State Archives Prussian Cultural Heritage, Acta re. The determination of the official emblems and the official clothing of the magistrates, city councilors and district heads, Rep. 77
• Secret State Archive of Prussian Cultural Heritage: “State bankruptcy! Bankotter Staat? “ (Exhibition catalog), Berlin 2006