Italy, Kingdom. An Order St. Maurice and St.Lazarus in Gold, Grand Officer

(Ordine dei Santi Maurizio e Lazzaro). Instituted in 1572 by Pope Gregory XIII at the request of Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy. A Grand Officer set including a Gold shamrock cross with white enamel arms, and a green enamel Maltese cross between the shamrock arms, surmounted by a large silver gilt crown, reverse mirrors the obverse, measures 53.5mm (w) x 85.8mm (h – inclusive of cross adorned integral ball atop surmounting crown), weighs 22.9 grams, elongated loop for ribbon connection stamped B, enamels intact, in extremely fine condition. Accompanied by the Grand Officer Breast Star, a four-point silver star with faceted rays, the obverse center has a superimposed white enamelled shamrock cross with arms of a green enamelled Maltese cross in the quadrants, reverse features a vertical pin assembly flanked by dual stays, measures 79.75mm (w) x 79.75mm (h), weighs 33.1 grams, notable wear to obverse enamels, chips on shamrock cross, in near very 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. Members of these two Orders were charged with preserving and protecting Catholicism. This Order was officially discontinued in 1951, but it continues to be awarded as an unofficial hereditary Order by the House of Savoy. The Grand Officer may also be known as the I Class Commander.