WW1 ERA ITALY ORDER OF CROWN GRAND OFFICER MEDAL BREAST STAR WOLFERS BRUSSELLS

Offered is a circa 1900, Italian Order of the Crown, Grand Officer’s breast star, by Wolfers of Brussels.

Breast star consists of a 81mm wide, eight-pointed silver faceted chiselled star with ball-tipped finials; the face with a centrally-imposed gold-edged white enamel cross pattée alisée with silver knots between the arms, a circular central deep blue enamel medallion bearing the silver crown of Savoy with red, white and green jewels, encircled by a silver-gilt ring; the reverse plain with pin for wear and with maker’s cartouche of Wolfers of Brussels. An exceptionally fine condition and superbly made example.

The Order was established on 20 February 1868 by Vittorio Emanuele II, first king of unified Italy to commemorate unification (though it was only in 1870 that the Papal States and Rome joined the union). It was intended to reward outstanding service to Italy and was open equally to Italian and non-Italian citizens. It became obsolete with the dissolution of the Italian monarchy at the end of World War II and has not been issued since.