Spain, Kingdom. A Superb French-Made Order of Carlos III, Grand Cross Breast Star, Type III, c. 1850

(Real Orden de Carlos III). Instituted September 19th, 1771. (c. 1850). A superb French jeweler made example of an extremely well preserved Order of Carlos III Grand Cross breast star, a Maltese Cross with multi-faceted surfaces and ball finials constructed of silver with equally multi-faceted fleur-de-lis in the quadrants between the arms of the cross, the obverse with a central oval medallion filled with off-white enamels, surrounded by a blue ring of enamels, presenting the Virgin Mary in delicate and fine quality enamels standing on a bed of 18kt Gold clouds, inscribed “Virtuti et Merito” (Virtue and Merit) in capitalized Latin within a white enameled cross, featuring a small green enameled 18kt Gold laurel wreath with a central “III” in black enamels, the reverse is plain with a functional vertical pinback and two downward-facing stabilizer pins for secure attachment to a uniform, unmarked but undoubtedly of French manufacture, measuring 82.2 mm (w) x 82.6 mm (l), weighing 67.10 grams, a superb example in near mint example.