Beschreibung:

THE ORIGINAL KNIGHT COMMANDER'S BADGE OF THE ORDER OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE AWARDED TO COUNT PLUNKETT BY POPE LEO XIII. An unusual early variety of the Knight Commander's neck badge of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, in silver-gilt and red enamel, comprising the usual central cross potent, but with smaller crosses potent in the four angles, as opposed to the more usually seen plain crosses, with trophy of arms suspension, 4'' (10cm) high overall, including suspension, probably Italian manufacture (two small indistinct hallmarks on suspension loop), circa 1868. Count Plunkett had two different neck badges of a Knight Commander of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. This is the original badge, probably of Italian manufacture, which he was awarded by Pope Leo XIII in 1884. A treasured possession which he rarely wore, for fear of losing or damaging it. On most occasions he wore the German example with plain crosses offered as part of the previous lot, a fact testified to by photographs of the period which invariably show the Count wearing the duplicate badge with plain small crosses. The Order of the Holy Sepulchre was reorganised in 1868 by Pius IX. What had originally been an order with only one class, Knight, was expanded to three classes, Knight Grand Cross, Knight Commander and Knight. This necessitated the design and production of two new distinct types of insignia, for the Knight Grand Cross and the Knight Commander. This rare variety of the Knight Commander's badge with small crosses potent is presumably from the original consignment produced in 1868 for distribution directly by the Holy See, and discontinued once the supply had been used up. Later badges distributed by the Holy See, and privately purchased badges of the period, all appear to have plain crosses in the angles. Lot sold with a photograph of Count Plunkett wearing the uniform of a Count of the Holy See. THE ORIGINAL KNIGHT COMMANDER'S BADGE OF THE ORDER OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE AWARDED TO COUNT PLUNKETT BY POPE LEO XIII. An unusual early variety of the Knight Commander's neck badge of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, in silver-gilt and red enamel, comprising the usual central cross potent, but with smaller crosses potent in the four angles, as opposed to the more usually seen plain crosses, with trophy of arms suspension, 4'' (10cm) high overall, including suspension, probably Italian manufacture (two small indistinct hallmarks on suspension loop), circa 1868. Count Plunkett had two different neck badges of a Knight Commander of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. This is the original badge, probably of Italian manufacture, which he was awarded by Pope Leo XIII in 1884. A treasured possession which he rarely wore, for fear of losing or damaging it. On most occasions he wore the German example with plain crosses offered as part of the previous lot, a fact testified to by photographs of the period which invariably show the Count wearing the duplicate badge with plain small crosses. The Order of the Holy Sepulchre was reorganised in 1868 by Pius IX. What had originally been an order with only one class, Knight, was expanded to three classes, Knight Grand Cross, Knight Commander and Knight. This necessitated the design and production of two new distinct types of insignia, for the Knight Grand Cross and the Knight Commander. This rare variety of the Knight Commander's badge with small crosses potent is presumably from the original consignment produced in 1868 for distribution directly by the Holy See, and discontinued once the supply had been used up. Later badges distributed by the Holy See, and privately purchased badges of the period, all appear to have plain crosses in the angles. Lot sold with a photograph of Count Plunkett wearing the uniform of a Count of the Holy See.