Item #W6712
Instituted in 1920. Grand Commander Badge: multi-piece construction, in silver gilt with red, white, light blue and pale blue enamels, French-made, maker marked "AXC" (Adrien Chaubillon, Paris) on the loop, both sides with a nine-pointed white enamelled star exhibiting gilt streaks, with gilt rays between each of the arms of the star, each of which has a pale blue enamelled star affixed, obverse centrepiece illustrating an allegorical female figure reaching for a shining star, inscribed "LIGHT IN DARKNESS" on the surrounding centrepiece ring, reverse centrepiece with the intertwined letters in running script "LR" above the date "1920", inscribed "THE LOVE OF LIBERTY BROUGHT US HERE" on the surrounding centrepiece ring, measuring 56.8 mm (w) x 91.8 mm (h) inclusive of its wreath suspension, exhibiting chipping and repair in the red enamels on the obverse centrepiece ring, otherwise the enamels are intact, on its original full-length neck ribbon; and Breast Star: multi-piece construction, in silver gilt with red, white and pale blue enamels, French-made, maker marked "AXC" (Adrien Chaubillon, Paris) on the pin, illustrating a nine-pointed white enamelled star exhibiting gilt streaks, with gilt rays between each of the arms of the star, each of which has a pale blue enamelled star affixed, the centrepiece illustrating an allegorical female figure reaching for a shining star, inscribed "LIGHT IN DARKNESS" on the surrounding centrepiece ring, measuring 95 mm (w) x 72.8 mm (h), vertical pinback, scattered gilt wear on the centrepiece. Better than very fine and near extremely fine, respectively. Footnote: The Order of the Star of Africa is an order presented by the government of Liberia, to Liberian and foreign citizens. They are invested with the order for distinguished service to the Republic of Liberia or to Africa in public service or in the arts and sciences, in five grades: I Class Grand Cross, II Class Grand Officer, III Class Commander, IV Class Officer and V Class Knight.