DUCHY OF PARMA, CONSTANTINIAN ORDER OF ST GEORGE

Grand Cross set of insignia, 19th Century, unsigned, comprising sash badge, in gold and red enamel, width 51.7mm, with pendent St George and the Dragon in gold, and breast star, in finely-pierced jewel-cut silver with applied gold and red-enamelled central cross and saltire cross, width 75mm, light overall wear and enamel chipped at upper arm of cross on breast star, with sash; all in a green leather case (lacking insert) with gilt lettering on the lid Parmaischer Constantin-St. Georgs-Orden.

Included with the set is Prince Elie of Parma’s card bearing the manuscript note ‘porté par l’Empereur François Joseph I jusqu’à sa mort.’ This provenance is supported by the presence of a distinctive label inside the case illustrating how the sash was to be worn and intended for the benefit of the Imperial valet; as noted by Ortner, M. Christian and Georg Ludwigstorff, Austrian Orders and Decorations (part I / vol. 1), Vienna, 2017, p 25, the cases of other Orders known to have belonged to Franz Joseph bear identical labels.

Areas of loss to the enamel. Fabric in overall good condition. Signs of age to the metal consistent with wear. Total gross weight approximately 57 grams. Accompanied by a manuscript note 'porté par l'Empereur François Joseph I jusqu'à sa mort.
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