Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 3016 - Orders, Medals, Decorations & Militaria
Lot: 594

An Excessively Rare, Officially Issued, Gold Collar Badge of a Knight Companion of the Order of the Bath (K.B.) from the Napoleonic War Period, c.1797-1814, with a Superb Privately Made Star of the same era.
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Collar Badge, 63mm. x 42mm., gold, of oval form , with a central sceptre between three imperial crowns, a rose and thistle beneath the topmost crown, encircled by the motto of the Order in burnished letters on a matt ground, the whole surmounted by an arabesque with suspension ring, extremely fine
; Star, 105mm. x 95mm., the rays in silver, pierced and facetted, the eight points, each with a gold eyelet, hinged from the gold sprung centre, the central devices in gold, silver and enamel, and the reverse fitted with three attachment prongs; a most attractive and rare piece, extremely fine (2)

The Badge and Star offered here as a single lot do not constitute an official 'set' such as would have been given to a recipient at investiture during the late 18th/early 19th centuries, although as a Star and Badge pair they complement each other as exceptionally fine specimens of the Order's insignia from this period. An officially issued set at this time would have consisted of a gold Badge, returnable at the recipient's death, but would have been accompanied by only an embroidered representation of the Star to be sewn on to the uniform or coat. Recipients wanting a more attractive, durable version of the Star had to commission them from jewellers, privately, and at their own expense. The Badge in this lot is a perfect example of the style of plain 'investment' Badge supplied during the period 1797-1814.

Provenence
Badge, David Spink Collection, Spink 1985.
Star, David Spink Collection, Spink 1986

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Estimate
£25,000 to £30,000