Italy, Kingdom. An Order Of St. Maurice And St. Lazarus, I Class Grand Cross Star, By Cravanzola, C.1910

(Ordine dei Santi Maurizio e Lazzaro). Instituted in 1434. Insignia in silver gilt with green and white enamels, mounted to an eight-pointed star base, each star point with five 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 91.3 mm (w) x 90 mm (h), vertical pinback flanked by dual stays, crazing and repair evident in the white enamels on all four arms, chipping and crazing in the green enamels on either side of the arm at 9 o'clock, framework damage that resulted in the recessing on the green enamels within at 4:30 o'clock, near 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.