France. II Restoration. An Order of the Legion of Honour, V Class Knight, c.1825
Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur, Chevalier. Instituted in 1802. Second Restoration (1814-1830). In silver with blue and green enamels, the centrepieces in 18K Gold, the laurel tassels at the base of the award hallmarked on both sides, the obverse hallmarked with a fasces on the obverse, the reverse hallmarked with a rabbit's head indicating manufacture in Paris of small articles between 1819 and 1838, measuring 44 mm (w) x 67.5 mm (h) inclusive of its crown and laterally-pierced ball suspension, chipping and crazing evident in the white enamels on a few arms on both sides, chipping in the blue enamels on the centrepiece rings on both sides, the Gold in the reverse centrepiece having become a rosy colour, original ribbon, near extremely 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).

