Italy, Kingdom. An Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus, III Class Commander

(Ordine dei Santi Maurizio e Lazzaro). Instituted in 1572 by Pope Gregory XIII at the request of Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy. In silver gilt, a white enamelled Shamrock cross with green enamelled fans in each quadrant representing a Maltese cross, surmounted by a large crown suspension with an elongated and striated ring, ring marked 800 denoting the silver fineness, measures 55mm (w) x 87.6mm (h – inclusive of cross adorned horizontally pierced ball on crown suspension), weighs 28.9 grams (including ribbon), worn on original green neck ribbon, speckling in white enamel, green enamel fully intact, in overall extremely fine condition.

Footnote: This Order was formed by the combination of two Orders of Knighthood, the Order of St. Maurice and the Order of St. Lazarus. The Order of St. Maurice was established in 1434, and the Order of St. Lazarus originated in the early 12th century.