France, III Republic. An Order of the Legion of Honour, Officer in Gold, c.1920

(Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur). Instituted 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte. Third Republic (1870-1951) issue. In 18K gold, consisting of a ball-tipped double-ended five-armed cross in white enamels, with green enamelled oak and laurel branches in each quadrant, surmounted by a highly-detailed green enamel wreath of oak and laurel with ornamented integral ring, obverse centre also in Gold presenting the right facing Marianne bust, encircled by a nice blue enamel ring inscribed REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE 1870 (French Republic 1870), the reverse centre etching by enamelled crossed French flags, surrounded by the inscription HONNEUR ET PATRIE (Honor and Fatherland), on a beautiful blue-enamelling border, French eagle hallmark denoting guarantee Gold of .750 purity between 1847 and 1919 on the ribbon tassel at 6 o’clock, measures 39.9mm (w) x 58.75mm (h - inclusive of integral ball atop wreath suspension), weighs 23.7 grams (including ribbon), worn on original red ribbon with large rosette, enamels intact, in extremely fine condition.