Vatican, City State. An Order Of St. Sylvester, Grand Cross Set By Tanfani & Bertarelli, C.1963

(Ordine di San Silvestro Papa). Instituted 1841. 1950-present Issue. Of Italian manufacture, a very well preserved and highly attractive Grand Cross set by Tanfani & Bertarelli, consisting of an enamelled white Maltese cross in silver gilt, embellishing by a faceted gilt frame, with quadrants projecting clusters of multiple rays of different length also in silver gilt, the obverse depicting a superposed portrait of St. Sylvester, on an enamelled deep blue background, surrounded by a border stamped by the inscription SANC SILVERTER PONT MAX (St. Silvestre Maximum Pope), the reverse presenting a central engraved Vatican coat of arms in gilt, surrounded by an enamelled blue edge dated MDCCCXLI - MCMV (1841-1905), measuring 58.2 mm (w) x 61.5 mm (h), weighs 115.1 grams (including room) with an ornamented suspension fixed to the upper arm, together with a ring attached to a full-length original sash, presenting minor gilt contact, extremely fine.

The breast star, consisting of a finely faceted multi-rayed eight-pointed star in silver, with obverse centrepiece in silver gilt exhibiting an enamelled white Maltese Cross, with multiple gilded rays in each quadrant, the obverse depicting a superposed portrait of St. Sylvester, on an enamelled deep blue background, surrounded by a border stamped by the inscription SANC SILVERTER PONT MAX (St. Silvestre Maximum Pope), the reverse presenting principal pin assembly, along with a central cartouche of TANFANI BERTARELLI, measuring 87.25 mm (w) x 89.12 mm (h), weighs 85.9 grams, with minor tarnished silver, extremely fine condition.

Accompanied by a Societatis Apostolatus Catholic document, dated January 18 1963, creased, in extremely fine condition.

Contained in its box of issue, a red leatherette exterior with the Vatican crest on the exterior lid, the interior lid is marked TANFANI & BERTARELLI, the base with a sash compartment below the velvet medal bed, measures 137mm (w) x 275mm (h) x 62mm (d), hinge and clasp functional, light wear to the exterior, remains in extremely fine condition.