64 The Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick: Knight's Breast Star worn by Arhur Saunders, Earl of Arran.
Silver, the medallion gold and enamel, reverse fitted with pin. The particularly vividly worked medallion in finest jeweler's quality. The order's motto "QUIS SEPARABIT MDCCLXXXIII" in finely worked separate letters in the typeface "Old English" on translucent enameled blue background. The St. Patrick cross, shamrock and crowns are separately applied and finely chased. Small chip in the center of the green enamel.
This breast star was made around the year 1800. Originally it was a movable breast star with steel hinges and was later equipped with a pin system. The separately manufactured ray bundles were carefully soldered together.
This example comes from the possession of Arhur Saunders, Earl of Arran (1734 - 1809), one of the first knights of the order from the foundation year 1783.
The breast star is illustrated and described in the profound standard work by Peter Galloway, The Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick, Sussex 1983, pictorial plate 2, no. 3.
Beautiful, impressive breast star in highly elegant elongated form and with this provenance of particularly great interest and highest rarity.
107 x 93 mm.