Brazil, Empire. An Order Of The Rose In Gold, Officer Grade Star

(Imperial Ordem da Rosa). Instituted in 1829. In 18K Gold with blue, white and green enamels, complemented by eighteen rose-coloured balls, weighing 31.5 grams, unmarked, measuring 54.5 mm (w) x 55.3 mm (h), vertical pinback and catch assembly also in Gold, contact marks and Gold test mark evident on the reverse, missing one of its rose-coloured balls at 9 o'clock, otherwise the enamels are intact, better than very fine.

Footnote: The Imperial Order of the Rose was a Brazilian order of chivalry, instituted by Emperor Pedro I of Brazil on October 17, 1829, to commemorate his marriage to Amélie of Leuchtenberg and was awarded in six degrees: Grand Cross, Grand Dignitary, Dignitary, Commander, Officer and Knight. On March 22, 1890, the order was cancelled as a national order by the interim government of First Brazilian Republic. Since the deposition in 1889 of the last Brazilian monarch, Emperor Pedro II, the order continues as a house order being awarded by the Heads of the House of Orleans-Braganza, pretenders to the defunct throne of Brazil. The current Brazilian Imperial Family is split into two branches Petrópolis and Vassouras, and as a consequence the Grand Mastership of the Order is disputed between those two branches.