France, III Republic. An Order of the Legion of Honour, V Class Knight, c.1880

(Ordre de la Légion d'Honneur, Chevalier). Instituted in 1802. In silver with red, blue, white and green enamels, both centrepieces in Gold, with thirteen old cut genuine diamonds, one on each point on the arms and five on the v-shaped suspension above the wreath, hallmarked with an eagle's head on the tip of the ribbon on the obverse, measuring 43 mm (w) x 69 mm (h) inclusive of its wreath and v-shaped suspension, chipping evident in the white enamels on the arm at 7 o'clock and in the green enamels on the wreath on the obverse, original ribbon, better than very fine. Footnote: The Legion of Honour (AKA National Order of the Legion of Honour) is the highest French order of merit for military and civil merits, established in 1802 by Napoléon Bonaparte. The order's motto is "Honneur et Patrie" ("Honour and Fatherland") and its seat is the Palais de la Légion d'Honneur next to the Musée d'Orsay, on the left bank of the River Seine in Paris. The order is divided into five degrees of increasing distinction: Chevalier (Knight), Officier (Officer), Commandeur (Commander), Grand Officier (Grand Officer) and Grand-Croix (Grand Cross).