Extraordinary and rare grand-croix de la Légion d'Honneur je - Lot 122

Extraordinary and rare grand-croix de la Légion d'Honneur jewelry from the Second Empire period. Gold and enamel star under a mobile crown with imperial eagle finials. Two discreet white enamel fels on the obverse upper branch and an equally discreet fel on the left branch, the green enamel of the foliage surrounding the branches is intact, profile of the senestrogyr laureate emperor on the obverse with traditional text in gold letters on a midnight blue background "NAPOLEON EMP. DES FRANÇAIS", and on the reverse, an imperial eagle on a senestrogyre thunderbolt and "HONNEUR ET PATRIE" gilded text on a midnight-blue background. There were only about a hundred recipients between 1852 and 1870, so this decoration must be considered highly coveted. Gross weight: 71.5g (Condition 1)