France, Iii Republic. An Order Of The Legion Of Honour, Iii Class Commander, C.1952

(Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur, Commandeur). Instituted in 1802. In silver gilt with white, blue, red and green enamels, hallmarked with a boar's head on the laurel tassels on the obverse, hallmarked with a boar's head and an obscured maker's mark on the loop, measuring 56.7 mm (w) x 83.2 mm (h) inclusive of its wreath and integral ring suspension, chipping evident in the blue enamels on both centrepiece rings, crazing and chipping in the white enamels on the arms at 10 and 12 o'clock on both sides, two red enamelled beads missing on the reverse of the wreath, replacement neck ribbon, 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)