Belgium, Kingdom. An Order Of Leopold Ii, Officer’s Star With Case, By G. Wolfers, C.1900

(Ordre de Léopold II). Instituted 1900. Type II. 1908-1950 Issue. Of high quality manufacture, a very rare version of the Officer breast star, consisting of an exquisite ball-tipped Maltese Cross in silver, the arms composed by superior beaded patterns framed by smooth edges, the quadrants exhibition clusters of five delicate rays also in silver, with obverse presenting a superimposed ball-tipped Maltese Cross in silver gilt, with unusual rayed arms, surrounded by a gilded laurel wreath along the quadrants, adorned by a large Belgian Crown also in silver gilt on the top, the centre featuring a partially blue-enamelled insignia, encircled by the inscription L’UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Unity Is Strength), the reverse with vertical pinback flanked by dual stays, hallmarked by period marker’s cartouche of Gustave Wolfers in Brussels, measuring 75.62 mm (w) x 76.43 mm (h), with minor tarnished silver, a superb piece in better than extremely fine condition. Accompanied by a hard-shelled blue case of presentation, the lid exterior bears a crowned cypher of Leopold II in gilded lettering, with interior lid in white-cream silk displaying the maker’s firm in black lettering, with medabel in elegant blue velvet, measuring 107 mm (w) x 41 mm (h) x 108 mm (l), with functional push-button, with minor wearing surface, fine.

Footnote: The Order of Leopold II was established by King Leopold II by an unpublished decree on August 24, 1900. It was originally created as an Order of the Congo Free State, but it was later integrated into the national hierarchy of decorations in Belgium after the Congo Free State ceased to exist as a private domain of King Leopold II in 1908. The King is Grand Master.