Italy, Kingdom. An Order of the Crown of Italy, II Class Grand Officer Star, c.1900

(Ordine della Corona d'Italia). Instituted in 1868. Insignia in Gold with red, white, blue and green enamels, the insignia mounted to an eight-pointed multi-faceted star base, each of the star points with a ball finial, unmarked, measuring 77.2 mm (w) x 76.8 mm (h), vertical pinback flanked by dual stays, chipping and loss evident on the blue enamels on the centrepiece, along with crazing and repair present in the white enamels on the arm at 9 o'clock, near fine.

Footnote: The Order of the Crown of Italy was founded as a national order in 1868 by King Vittorio Emanuele II, to commemorate the unification of Italy in 1861. It was awarded in five degrees for civilian and military merit: Knight Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer and Knight. Compared with the older Order of Saint Maurice and Saint Lazarus (1572), the Order of the Crown of Italy was awarded more liberally and could be conferred on non-Catholics as well. Eventually, it became a requirement for a person to have already received the Order of the Crown of Italy in at least the same degree before receiving the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus. The order has been suppressed by law since the foundation of the Republic in 1946.