United States. A Military Order of the French Alliance in Gold, Knight, c.1900
Item #M0041-219
Price:
$2,700
(Ordre Militaire de l'Alliance française, Chevalier). Instituted in 1883. Three-piece construction, in Gold with red, white, dark blue and light blue enamels, weighing 14.6 grams inclusive of its ribbon and hanger, measuring 39.3 mm (w) x 43.2 mm (h) inclusive of its integral ring, chipping evident in the light blue enamels on the reverse of the arm at 6 o'clock, original ribbon with pinback, very fine.
Footnote: The treaty of alliance between the then Kingdom of France and the newly-independent United States of America was signed on February 6, 1778. The Alliance Française is a cultural organization founded in 1883, to promote French language and culture but does not have a military arm. The origins of this piece are therefore uncertain and it is probably an unofficial award from a society.