Italy, Kingdom. An Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus, III Class Commander, in Gold

(Ordine dei Santi Maurizio e Lazzaro). Instituted in 1572 by Pope Gregory XIII at the request of Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy. In 18K Gold, a white enamelled Shamrock cross, with green enamelled fans with ball finials in each quadrant representing a Maltese cross, surmounted by a large Gold crown and lightly beaded elongated suspension loop, measures 52mm (w) x 82mm (h), weighs 27.2grams, heavily re-lacquered and evident cracking in the center of the white cross on both the obverse and the reverse, loss of enamel to reverse 2 o’clock fan, 8 o’clock reverse fan has been relacquered in green, noticeable wear to Gold exterior edge, small notch out of elongated loop,

Accompanied by a correct replacement ribbon.

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.