Catalog - Auction 68 - The Western Powers

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The WW 2 War Medal 1939-1945, King George VI
Breast Badge, 36 mm, silvered Metal, original suspension ring and ribbon. I

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Order of St. Januarius
Prince Size Breast Star, 57 x 57,5 mm., Silver, chiselled to imitate a sequined embroidery, flanked by ornated fleurs-de-lys, chiselled gold centre with enameled details of the robe of the Saint; separately-made scroll with the Order’s motto in gold lettering on blue enameled ground, the reverse, with 4 golden retaining nuts, securing the centre and fitted with a vertical pin. A beautiful rare star, made for a young prince, excellent, Neapolitan manufacture, extremely fine condition. I RR!

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Order of St. Januarius
An imposing, early, British-made Breast Star, 75x75 mm., Silver, completely diamond-cut chiseled and pierced in the style of the Neapolitan cut-steel stars of this same order as made by the court jeweler Carlo Landriani, the tips, with tiny loops to apply the star to the habit; the image of the saint made of embossed and chiseled gold, the two ampulles set with rubies and a white enameled scroll below, bearing the Order’s motto “IN.SANGUINE-FŒDUS” enclosed by a thin, silver frame; smooth, polished reverse, bearing the maker’s cartouche of the jeweler Wm. Gray, 14 New Bond Street, London. An exceptionally rare star, of the best quality from the years of the wars against Napoleon, excellent condition. I RR! Provenance: the estate of the Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Martin (1764–1847): descending from a family of naval tradition, grandson of Rear-Admiral Sir William Rowley, he saw service on board of H.M. ships at the early age of 12, as “Captain’s Servant” on HMS Monarch, at the age of 14, he lived his first sea battle of Ushant, 1778, from then on, participating to several battles, before the French Revolutionary Wars and those against Napoleon. He saw service in the Mediterranean during the Peninsular Wars and to the blockade of Malta, the sea operations of the Egyptian campaign, thus receiving the Turkish Gold Medal in 1802, temporarily leaving the active service after the Peace of Amiens. Called back to service in 1803, he joined the Channel Fleet, then to the Mediterranean, taking many, noteworth commands and signalling himself both in action and for his military and human qualities, flying his flag on board of important ships, until being the Commander in Chief at Ports- mouth in 1824, with his sign on board of HMS Victory. Created Admiral of the Fleet in 1846, he died in Westminster one year later, at the age of 83. He received the Neapolitan Order of St. Januarius on July 6th, 1811. note: Very few breast stars are known, made by William Gray of London; one of them is the small-size one of the Hungarian Order of St. Stephen, belonged to the Duke of Cumberland and published in R. Frhr. v. Prochàzka: “Oesterreichisches Ordenshandbuch”, München, 1974, nr. 1078 (plate).

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The Royal Military Order of St. George of The Reunion
Grand Cross Breast Star, 85x85 mm., Silver, GOLD red enameled cross, resting on chiseled and pierced beams, flanked by green enameled, golden laurel wreath and crossed swords, also in gold, white enameled centre medallion bearing the image of St. George fighting the dragon, within ornated, golden border, blue enameled outer circlet, bearing the Order’s motto “In HOC SIGNO VINCES”, composed of finely chiseled and engraved, golden lettering, the whole, surrounded by a broad border of stylized, neoclassical palmettes, gilt, polished reverse, with engraved outline of the wreath’s and swords’ reverse; counter- medallion, engraved with maker’s signature “Baudin, Palais Royal n. 39 a Paris” and vertical pin of narrow, flattened section; in its original, red morocco fitted case of issue. A beautiful, rare star from the period of the first awards in the early 19th Century, excellent quality and condition. I R!

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The Royal Military Order of St. George of The Reunion
Officer's Cross, instituted in 1819. Breast Badge, 57x36 mm., GOLD, ruby-red enameled cross flanked by crossed swords, centre medallion bearing the golden image of St. George and the dragon, within gold bordered, blue enameled outer circlet bearing the inscription “IN HOC SIGNO VINCES”, reverse medallion as to the obverse, but the outer circlet bearing the motto “MERITO”, round suspension ring and long ribbon with original, ribbon with rosette. A rare and elegant order, in excellent condition. I R!

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The Royal Military Order of St. George of The Reunion
Knight's Cross, instituted in 1819. Breast Badge, 32 mm., GOLD, ruby-red enameled cross flanked by crossed swords; centre medallion bearing the golden image of St. George and the dragon, within gold bordered, blue enameled outer circlet bearing the inscription “IN HOC SIGNO VINCES”, reverse medallion as to the obverse, but the outer circlet bearing the motto “MERITO”, round suspension ring and long ribbon with original ribbon. A rare and elegant order, in excellent condition. I R!

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Order of Francis I
Grand Cross Set. Sash Badge, 96x60 mm, Silver, both sides enameled, original suspension ring and complete modern sash. Breast Star, 85 mm., gilt Silver and GOLD, center enameled and gilt, thin pin on reverse, maker's mark "Chobillon - Paris". Superb and rare set, in mint condition! I R!

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Order of Francis I
Grand Cross Star. Breast Star, 80 mm., gilt Silver and GOLD, center enameled and gilt, thin pin on reverse, maker's mark "Lemaitre - Paris". Superb and rare star, in mint condition! I R!

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Order of Francis I
Commander's Cross in GOLD, 86x55 mm, with white enameled arms, flanked by beautifully chiseled and engraved fleurs de lys with polished and matted details, obverse centre medallion with highly polished royal monogram within convex, green enameled oak wreath with red enameled acorns and ribands, gold-bordered, night-blue enameled outer circlet with motto "DE REGE OPTIME MERITO", in golden lettering, reverse medallion with night-blue enameled inscription "FRANCISCVS I INSTITVIT MDCCCXXIX" on brightly-polished gold ground, within separately-made thick, green enameled oakwreath enriched by dark red enameled acorns and ribbons, typical, upper crown, solidly mounted to the cross by means of tiny rivets, with most accurately chiseled, engraved and finished details, the pearls separately made and soldered in-place, suspension ring made of gold wire, original, broad, neck ribbon with ties. A very rare beautiful piece in the best Neapolitan manufacture, excellent condition. I- RR!

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Order of Francis I
Commander's Cross in GOLD, 83x52 mm, 56 g., with white enameled arms, flanked by beautifully chiseled and engraved fleurs de lys with polished and matted details, obverse centre medallion with highly polished royal monogram within convex, green enameled oak wreath with red enameled acorns and ribands, gold-bordered, night-blue enameled outer circlet with motto "DE REGE OPTIME MERITO", in golden lettering, reverse medallion with night-blue enameled inscription "FRANCISCVS I INSTITVIT MDCCCXXIX" on brightly-polished gold ground, within separately-made thick, green enameled oak wreath enriched by dark red enameled acorns and ribbons, typical, upper crown, solidly mounted to the cross by means of tiny rivets, with most accurately chiseled, engraved and finished details, the pearls separately made and soldered in-place, suspension ring made of double gold wire, original, large, neck ribbon. A rare and beautiful piece in the best Neapolitan manufacture, excellent condition. I R!

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Order of Francis I
A Knight`s cross in GOLD, 60x41 mm, with white enameled arms, flanked by beautifully chiseled and engraved fleurs de lys, obverse centre medallion with royal monogram within green enameled oak wreath, night-blue enameled outer circlet (tiny chip) with motto "DE REGE OPTIME MERITO"in golden lettering, reverse medallion with night-blue enameled inscription "FRANCISCVS I INSTITVITMDCCCXXIX" on polished gold ground, within thick, green enameled oak wreath enriched by orange brown enameled acorns, typical, upper crown, solidly mounted to the cross by means of tiny rivets ,smooth, suspension ring and original ribbon. A beautiful piece of typical, excellent, Neapolitan manufacture, extremely fine condition. I- R!

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Constantinian Order of St. George
Knight Grand Cross of Justice Set. Neck Cross, 90 x 40 mm., GOLD, red enamel, with bright-polished details, smooth, polished reverse, beautifully embossed, bulbous crown with chiseled and polished details, trophy-of-arms, with chiseled and engraved details, to the reverse, the ribbon-ring, original, sky-blue (faded), long neck ribbon. Breast Star, 90 mm., Silver with smooth rays, bordered to imitate the silver, embroidery thread; the centre in gold as the Order’s Cross, with finest engravings and bright, translucent, red enamel, concave, polished reverse, with two golden nuts to retain the obverse centre, vertical, broad pin. A beautiful, set from the very early 19th Century, with the order’s cross in a somewhat reduced form to be worn suspended to the neck as commonly used by high-ranking officers. Excellent condition. I R!

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Constantinian Order of St. George
Group of Miniatures to the Grand Cross. Breast Badge of the order (Parmese Type, with minuscule "Omega"), 18x13 mm, in GOLD and enamel, of early manufacture, hinged suspension crown. Breast Star of the order of Neapolitan type (majuscule "Omega"), with smooth rays, the centre in GOLD and red enamel, upper suspension ring, both with original, miniature ribbon and sewn together. A beautiful group of the best quality and excellent condition. I R!

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Constantinian Order of St. George
Breast Star for a Profess Grand Cross of Justice (or of Grace) of the Order, 56 mm, Silver, chiseled and pierced rays of roughly square shape, superimposed with red enameled golden Cross, polished golden lettering (with minuscule “omega”, indicating the Parmese branch of the Order), polished reverse with silver nuts retaining the centre, vertical, broad pin struck with Austrian silver marks. A beautiful, rare star, excellent condition. I R!

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Constantinian Order of St. George
Prince Size Breast Star, 64,5 mm., Silver, diamond-chiselled and pierced star; applied cross in gold of the Order with bright red enamel and gold letters, the reverse, with bent pins retaining the centre and maker’s escutcheon of Dupetitbosq, Paris, round pin and two hooks. A very fine and rare piece of the best French manufacture, extremely fine condition and patina, dating to cca. 1850. I R!

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Constantinian Order of St. George
Badge for Officials, 37x24 mm., GOLD, the obverse as a red enameled cross of the Order with gold lettering, within round border of “diamond-cut” chiseled pattern with inner and outer, thin “roped” rim; the reverse with elaborate, finely done, engraved ornamentations, hinged crown of Royal type enriched with Bourbones’ fleurs de lys, large, round suspension ring and original, silk ribbon. An extremely rare badge, even rarer for being in a slightly reduced form, of the finest quality and condition. I RR! note: the Order’s officials were chosen by the King, amongst the members of highest nobility, being also closest to the Court and the King’s person.

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Order of St. Ferdinand and of the Merit
Grand Cross Set of the Order. Sash Badge, 107x78 mm., GOLD, with six white enameled fleur de lys flanked by polished, golden rays, centre medallion with enameled image of the saint in armour on polished ground, within blue enameled outer circlet bearing the Order’s motto “FIDEI ET MERITO” in golden lettering, reverse medallion with blue enameled inscription “FERD: IV. INST. ANNO 1800” on golden ground, within blue enameled outer circlet bearing six golden quatrefoils, typical, upper Royal crown fixed by means of rivets and strong, double, round suspension ring, with original, full-sash ribbon with bow. Breast Star, 76x74 mm., Silver, with six chiselled and pierced rays, alternated by six fleurs-de-lys also finely chiselled and pierced, with a beautiful effect of brightness and “frosted”, opaque details, centre medallion in gold with applied, enameled image of the crowned St. Ferdinand in armour and Royal robes, holding a sword and a green enameled wreath, blue enameled outer circlet with applied motto “FIDEI ET MERITO” in chiselled gold and laurel branches, jointed by a flower, diamond-chiselled outer border, also made of gold, bright-polished reverse, with concave round counter medallion, broad, vertical pin; in the original, octagonal, red morocco case with fitted inner compartment with gold embossed ornaments on the lid. An extraordinary and very rare, early set of the Order, with a lavishly- made breast star; excellent condition. I RR!

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Order of St. Ferdinand and of the Merit
Breast Star of the Order, 80 mm, with chiseled and pierced rays in Silver, flanked by six chiseled fleurs-de-lys, centre medallion in gold with polychrome enameled image of the saint on polished ground, within outer circled whose lower end is in form of a blue enameled scroll, bearing the order’s motto “FIDEI ET MERITO”, gilt, polished reverse, fitted with thin, vertical pin and two side-hooks, the counter-medallion, with maker’s escutcheon of Lemaitre, Paris. A beautiful, highly convex star of typical, French quality, from 1855 ca., excellent condition. I R!

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The Military Order of Savoy
Knight's Cross, instituted in 1815. Breast Badge, 39x36 mm., GOLD, white enameled pointed cross, flanked by green enameled laurel and oak branches resp., red enameled obverse centre medallion with separately- made, crossed sabres sided by the letters « V » and « E » (for Victor Emanuel II King of Sardinia and of Italy) and, above « 1855 » (the year when the Order was reformed), reverse medallion with white enameled Savoy Cross on red background (some damages), within red enameled outer circlet with golden inscription « AL MERITO MILITARE », large round suspension ring and original ribbon. A rare and elegant order, in very fine condition. II R!