(Orden del Toisón de Oro). Instituted 10 January 1430 by Philip III of Burgundy. Alphonso XII period (1900-1930). Of Spanish manufacture, an example of a neck decoration of the Spanish Order of the Golden Fleece, consisting of a finely-detailed typical Spanish ram’s fleece in silver gilt, suspended by a stylized ribbed band in red enamel with a central faceted glass, the midsection is surmounted by an elaborate briquette of Hispano-Moorish style of knotted “B”s letters in white and blue enamel, plain reverse, connected by period ornate loop suspension with a vertical pinback, on original full-length neck ribbon, the fleece measuring 28.66 mm (w) x 33.51 mm (h - inclusive of the integral ball), with total length measuring 116.20 mm (h - inclusive of loop suspension), with strong loss of gilt on both obverse and reverse, otherwise in near extremely fine condition.
Footnote: The Spanish Order of the Golden Fleece was instituted by Philip III, Duke of Burgundy on January 10, 1429 (or 1430). The Order was instituted as an Order of Knighthood rewarding individuals who had defended the Catholic Faith, venerated the Glory of God, Virgin Mary and St. Andrew the Apostle, patron of Burgundy, as well as those individuals who had exhorted to all men to live virtuously, displaying catholic good manners, defending the weak, and obeying the commandments of chivalry with honor and greatness. In 1477, after the marriage of Mary, Duchess of Burgundy, and Maximilian I, head of the House of Habsburg, the sovereignty of the Order remained in dispute between the house of Habsburg and the Kings of Spain. After the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1713,) Charles VI, new Emperor of Austria, re-instituted the Order as an Austrian Order of Knighthood. At the same time, Philip V, who became King of Spain, re-established the Order under the command of Burgundy’s house in 1721. In spite of the continuous engagements between both Kings claiming sovereignty of the Order, the next years the Order was tacitly introduced into both countries.