Italy, Kingdom. An Order Of St. Maurice And St. Lazarus, Ii Class Grand Officer Star, C.1880

(Ordine dei Santi Maurizio e Lazzaro). Instituted in 1434. Insignia in Gold with green and white enamels, mounted to an eight-pointed star base, each star point with nine faceted rays, with a single faceted ray between each point, maker marked "Do. CRAVANZOLA & C. SUCCESSI A FRAi BORANI ROMA" on the reverse cartouche, measuring 79 mm (w) x 79.8 mm (h), vertical pinback flanked by dual stays, crazing evident in the white enamels in the centre and on two of the arms of the cross, very fine.

Footnote: The Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus is a Roman Catholic dynastic order of knighthood bestowed by the House of Savoy, founded in 1572 by Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy, through amalgamation approved by Pope Gregory XIII of the Order of Saint Maurice, founded in 1434, with the medieval Order of Saint Lazarus, founded circa 1119, considered its sole legitimate successor. The Grand Master is Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples, since 1983. The order was formerly awarded by the Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) with the heads of the House of Savoy as the Kings of Italy. Originally a chivalric order of noble nature, it was restricted to subjects of noble families with proofs of at least eight noble great-grandparents. The order's military and noble nature was and is still combined with a Roman Catholic character. After the abolishment of the monarchy and the foundation of the Italian Republic in 1946, the legacy of the order is maintained by the pretenders of the House of Savoy and the Italian throne in exile.