Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Most Illustrious Order of St. Patrick, an important and large late-18th century oval gold collar badge, superbly enamelled on both sides, 63 x 48mm excluding large suspension ring, circa 1783-1800, contained in its original fitted oval red leather case, exceptional workmanship throughout, some minor chipping to circlet of shamrocks, otherwise nearly extremely fine and of the highest rarity £12000-15000

Provenance: David Spink Collection, Part 2, December 1985.

Exhibited: Gold: Power and Allure, The Goldsmiths’ Company, June-July 2012.

An oval badge, similar in style and size but uniface, is illustrated by Peter Galloway in his book The Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick (plate 4), where it is described as being “The Duke of Kent’s Badge in gold and enamel. The reverse inscribed, ‘The gift of His Majesty George III to Prince Edward Duke of Kent. April 1804.’ It is the oldest oval badge known to exist.”

The badge offered above can be dated not only by the style of its construction but also from its fitted case, all of which point to it being an earlier badge than that illustrated by Galloway and possibly as early as the creation of the Order itself in 1783.