Vatican. An Order of St. Gregory the Great, Commander's Case, by Tanfani and Bertarelli
This is a very well-preserved case of issue for an Order of St. Gregory the Great, accommodating a Commander’s breast star and cross with neck ribbon. The frame is constructed of heavy card stock with a textured faux red leather exterior. The obverse lid is decorated with a gold embossed Jerusalem Cross, and bordered by a richly detailed floral design. The interior of the lid features a padded, off-white, satin-type liner embossed with a maker’s mark of “Tanfani & Bertarelli, Piazza della Minerva, Roma”, along with the company logo. Connected to the liner is a fully-intact hinge cover of identical composition. Set into the hollow interior is a slotted white felt medal bed accommodating both of the aforementioned decorations. The case is opened with a functional magnetic metal spring catch with an exterior stud release, securely fastened in place with a wooden column. The case is in turned opened with a functional magnetic metal hinge. The case measures 137 mm (w) x 277 mm (l) x 83 mm (h). Minor, age-appropriate wear and fatigue is evident to the exterior, while the medal bed has become partially detached from the interior, but the case is in an otherwise better than very fine condition.