Royal Order of St. Isabel
Breast Badge, 96x51 mm., GOLD, oval medallion made as a wreath of roses, leaves and scrolls, tied as an upper bow, surmounted by a seraphim’s head, below, a blue enameled scroll with motto “PAUPERUM SOLATIO” in gold lettering, an inner laurel wreath enclosing the centre medallion in gold and white enameled details with applied, polychrome enameled scene of Saint Isabel handing alms to a beggar, the reverse with oval medallion with gold royal cipher on white enameled field, above a blue enameled scroll with the date “MDCCCCI” in gold, roman numerals, blue enameled outer circlet with inscription “REAL ORDEM DE SANTA ISABEL”. Large, crown suspension with red- and-green enameled “jewels” and red enameled inner cap, gold suspension ring, through the upper orb, in wooden case, lined in red. A very rare, lavishly-made badge of this high order, instituted in 1801 and limited to 26 living ladies of the highest nobility, as a reward to their continuous and meritorious assistance to orphans and poor people, extremely fine condition. I RR!