Italy, Republic. An Order of Merit, Collar Chain, c.1955

Italy: Badge has a three-piece construction, in silver gilt with white enamels, crown suspension in silver gilt with red, green, black and white enamels, 55.3 mm x 74 mm inclusive of its crown suspension, the crown surmounted by a 34.3 mm x 43.7 mm silver gilt framed interlocking "RI" (Repubblica Italiana), with a chain in silver gilt, consisting of eleven 13.5 mm x 24.2 mm stars alternating with ten 26 mm x 36.3 mm cluster bows, one cluster bow with a hook on the its reverse for looping around the ring on the facing star for securing around the neck, each of the insignias linked together via ornate links, measuring approximately 625 mm in length. Chipping evident in the white enamels on the base of the crown, otherwise the enamels are intact, extremely fine.