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an image of a display case with medals and medals on itan image of a gold and blue star with a horse on itan image of a medal with a cross on the front of itan image of a medal with a star on it on a black backgroundan image of a medal with a red, white, and blue ribbonan image of a medal with a star on itan image of a medal with a star on top of itmedal of the order of merit of the order of the knights of the united statesan image of a book with a bunch of medals on it
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4 - An exceptional tray featuring, set against a black velvet ba…
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Estimate €4,000 - €6,000
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Description
An exceptional tray featuring, set against a black velvet background, the decorations traditionally attributed by the family to the Viceroy of New Spain, who held office from 14 September 1810 to 4 March 1813, during the first phase of the Mexican War of Independence: Francisco Javier Venegas de Saavedra (1754–1838); the tray is inscribed ‘decorations of General d’Algarra, Governor of Barcelona (?) under Ferdinand VII’. Ferdinand VII ‘The Desired’ (1784–1833) was briefly King of Spain in 1808 before being forced to abdicate by Napoleon, who placed his brother Joseph on the throne. Ferdinand was held in exile in France but regained his throne in December 1813 following the Decree of Valençay. On this tray, on the upper tier in the centre-right, there is a pectoral plaque and a knight’s cross of the order founded by Ferdinand VII in 1814 (Order of Saint Hermengilde) The silver-plated and enamelled plaque is domed, with four knobbed arms, the centres of which feature a relief scale pattern; the arms are separated by bifid rays. The centre, surrounded by a relief crown of gilded foliage with enamelled leaves, bears a gilded inscription on a midnight blue enamel background: ‘PREMIO A LA CONSTANZA MILITAR ’. The centre depicts a knight on his steed, rendered in cut brass against a domed sky-blue background (slight damage between the horse’s hooves); the centre requires reattachment. The reverse is uninscribed with gilding, two anti-tilt hooks, and a round gilded pin. Dimensions 70 x 70 mm (Condition 1) The double-sided enamelled knight’s cross has four unknobbed arms covered in domed white enamel (there is a slight darker mark on the enamel of one arm on the obverse), the centre repeats the motif on the obverse, which is also found on the pectoral cross, featuring the text ‘PREMIO A LA CONSTANZA MILITAR’ and the horseman, the reverse bears, in raised gold lettering on a gold Amati ground, the cipher of King Ferdinand VII surrounded by a blue enamel crown (slight loss). A gold ring with a domed, hollow, movable crown. White moiré ribbon with a red central stripe and red outer edges (faded). (Condition 1) The second remarkable set in the upper row, also on the left, consists of a pectoral plate of the Royal and Military Order of Saint Ferdinand (founded in 1811) and a Knight’s Cross of the same order. This is the highest Spanish military honour awarded for heroic valour in combat. The silver-plated pectoral plaque, known as the ‘Laureate Cross of Saint Ferdinand’ (Cruz laureada de San Fernando), is domed with four pommeted arms; the centres feature a scale-pattern decoration linked by a crown of gilded laurel leaves, the leaves highlighted with green enamel. The centre depicts, against a gilded amati background, a full-length figure of the saint, gilded and enamelled, in armour and holding a sceptre, alongside the globus cruciger draped in an ermine mantle. A gilded inscription ‘AL MERITO MILITAR’ on a crown of peacock-tail blue enamel surrounds the central motif. The reverse of the insignia is uninscribed, with a vertical round pin. (Dimensions: 74x74 mm). (Condition: almost mint, with no chips or cracks in the enamel) The double-sided pendant decoration has four branches with pommels (one pommel slightly distorted), each with double points and enhanced with intact white enamel on the obverse; there is a slight loss of enamel on one branch on the reverse. The arms rest on a laurel wreath with green enamel leaves (enamel missing from two leaves on the obverse and two leaves on the reverse). The centre, set against a golden amati background, features a relief silhouette of the saint in polychrome enamel on the obverse, surrounded by the text ‘AL MERITO MILITAR’; the centre of the reverse bears two round, crowned cartouches in relief, cut from white metal on a bed of light blue enamel, surrounded by a peripheral band bearing the text ‘EL REY LA PATRIA’. The decoration is attached to the ribbon by a double-sided loop in the shape of a laurel wreath (some leaves have lost their layer of emerald-green enamel). The ribbon has an oval bow with a high-relief red centre and two yellow stripes. (Condition 1) The lower row of the panel features three half-size hanging decorations; in the centre, on a single-sided, domed oval module of gilded metal, is the commemorative medal for the Battle of Bailén (French defeat in July 1808; General Francisco Javier Venegas de Saavedra took part in the Battle of Bailén and was appointed Division Commander in Andalusia) the obverse of the polychrome enamelled module depicts, beneath an emerald-green enamelled crown, an inverted imperial eagle beneath two crossed sabres, surrounded by the word ‘BAILEN’ ’. It has a smooth ring and a red ribbon with white stripes of equal width in the centre and red stripes on the sides. (Condition 1) On the right, also in half-size, is the commemorative cross of the Battle of Talavera de la Reina. (A battle of the Spanish War of Independence fought on 27 and 28 July 1809 in the province of Toledo.) A four-pointed cross with knurled arms, the two tips meeting at the centre and inlaid with mother-of-pearl; the smooth, gilded metal reverse bears the capital letters ‘TA’, ‘LA’, ‘VE’ and ‘RA’ on the arms. A large, movable, hollow, gilded crown-shaped loop on a moiré ribbon, half white and half black. (Condition 1) On the lower left-hand side of the panel is a half-size decoration (Cross of Distinction of the Army of Extremadura), single-sided and made of silver-plated metal, with a flat reverse and a hollow centre; the obverse features four branches in three sections, with light blue tips and a single pommel in the centre, framed by fine, pointed branches enamelled in white. A movable loop set in a laurel wreath, the centre bearing a ship’s prow on blue waves, surrounded by the letters ‘ZSLNS’ on a bed of blue enamel. A midnight blue ribbon with two white stripes. (Condition 1) Included with this item is a copy of a handwritten text in Spanish from the family, recounting the life of the viceroy.
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About the sale MILITARIA XVII
Auction location
Auction time 07/09/2026 at 2:30 PM
Ref. : 0971 - 5
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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