Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 5019 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 161

The Most Noble Order of the Garter, a Superb Lesser George Garter Jewel, by Santarelli Sash Badge (Lesser George), central onyx cameo of St George slaying the dragon in high relief with much detail, signed Santarelli in exergue, surrounded by the gold Garter, the reverse centre plain with a similar Garter around, with intergral ornate gold suspension formed as a wreath and knotted ribbon with engraved gold suspension ring, 124mm x 67mm, a hairline flaw in the cameo above St George, otherwise extremely fine, in Mortimer and Hunt, London case. Estimate £ 25,000-28,000Provenance: Possibly aquired by either Henry, 5th Duke of Beaufort, for use on the occasion of his Installation at St. George´s Chapel, Windsor 29.5.1801, or by his son Henry Charles, 6th Duke of Beaufort, Installed 23.4.1805. Sold at Christie´s 21.11.1989 as part of the Beaufort Garter Jewels, lot 122. Giovanni Antonio Santarelli (1769-1826). Gem engraver, modeller in wax, and medallist, worked at the Milanese Mint and was Professor at the Academy, Florence. He was famous for his skill at cutting gems of exceptional beauty, while his portraits and bas-reliefs in wax were said to belong ´to the finest and most delicate productions of the art.´ (Forrer, L., Biographical Dictionary of Medallists, Vol. 5 pp. 334-5)

Sold for
£25,000