France, Ii Empire. An Order Of The Holy Spirit, Breast Star, C.1850

(Ordre du Saint-Esprit). Instituted by Henry III in 1578. Museum Display Piece. A highly rare historical museum-piece, consisting of an unbodied silver frame shaping a Maltese Cross with ball finials, embellishing by clusters of synthetic stones of different sizes on each arm, with delicate silver fleur-de-lys in each quadrant, obverse centre featuring a symbol of the Holy Spirit on a silver plaque, plain reverse with rings for sewing in the uniform, measuring 86.66 mm (w) x 86.53 mm (h), with light contact and toned silver, missing two rings on the reverse, very fine.

Footnote: This Order was founded by Henry III in 1578 as a reaction to the overuse of the Order of St. Michael. It also served as a commemoration of Henry III’s Catholic faith and his accession to the throne of France and Poland. Membership of this Order was restricted to Catholic men of royal blood, Catholic men of noble blood, and men of the Catholic Church. Members were required to demonstrate three generations of nobility, and be a minimum of 35 years of age. The Order was discontinued during the Revolution of 1791, and was later re-established by Louis XVIII on September 28, 1814. It remained the highest Order of Chivalry conferred by the Monarchy until it was permanently discontinued in 1830.