France, II Empire. An Order of the Legion of Honour, Knight & an Order of the Lily

(Ordre National de la Légion d’honneur). Instituted May 1802. II Empire (1852-1870). A beautiful legion of honour, in silver, presenting a white maltese cross with ball finials, segments of green enamelled laurel and oak leaf wreath in each quadrant, the obverse medallion in Gold presenting the right facing portrait of Luis Napoleon, encircled by a blue ring inscribed NAPOLEON EMPEREUR DES FRANCAISE, the reverse medallion presenting an eagle on a striped background encircled by a blue enamel ring inscribed HONNEUR ET PATRIE, the cross is surmounted by a silver crown decorated with small eagles on the arches, with different coloured enamels, measures 40.8mm (w) x 62.1mm (h - inclusive of cross adorned ball atop the crown suspension) weighs 21.51 grams including ribbon, marked on the 6 o’clock ribbon tassels with a boars head denoting 800 silver fineness and French manufacture between 1838-1962, worn on the period red ribbon, small areas of repair to white enamel arms, discolouration to ribbon, remains in extremely fine condition. 

Instituted April 26 1814. In silver, a small white enamelled Maltese cross with small ball finals and Fleur de lys in each quadrant, the obverse medallion presents the left facing portrait surrounded by a blue enamel ring inscribed LOUIS XVIII, the reverse medallion presents a central silver fleur de lys encircled by a blue ring inscribed VIVE LE ROI, the cross is surmounted by a crown, measures 15.0mm (w) x 30.0mm (h), weighs 2.71 grams, marked with the fasces on the ring denoting Paris silver guarantee for small objects between 1809-1819, loss of enamels to tips of rays on both obverse and reverse, ball finials bent, dark patina, a scarce decoration which remains in very fine condition.