Netherlands, Kingdom. An Order of Orange Nassau, Knight, Civil Division, c.1920

In silver with blue and white enamels, gold centrepieces, Dutch duty marked on the integral suspension with a script letter "I" (1906-1953) used for all newly manufactured Dutch silver objects that tested below the legal standard of 833/1000 fineness, maker marked "WS" on the ring, measuring 39 mm (w) x 60.5 mm (h) inclusive of its crown suspension, original ribbon, intact enamels, extremely fine. In its hardshelled case of issue, Royal crown on the lid, maker marked "J.M.J. WIELIK 9 NOORDEINDE DEN HAAG" on the inside lid, scuffing and wear evident on the exterior, fraying in the fabric overlying the hinged area, case very fine.

Footnote: The Order of Orange-Nassau is a civil and military Dutch order of chivalry founded on April 4, 1892 by the Queen regent Emma, acting on behalf of her under-age daughter Queen Wilhelmina. The Order is a chivalric order open to "everyone who has earned special merits for society". These are people who deserve appreciation and recognition from society for the special way in which they have carried out their activities. The lower grades of the order are comparable with the ranks of the Order of the British Empire in the United Kingdom, but titles, prefixes or post-nominals (other than academic ones) are not used in the Netherlands (the only exception being for members of the Military William Order).