An imposing, early, British-made Breast Star, 75x75 mm., Silver, completely diamond-cut chiseled and pierced in the style of the Neapolitan cut-steel stars of this same order as made by the court jeweler Carlo Landriani, the tips, with tiny loops to apply the star to the habit; the image of the saint made of embossed and chiseled gold, the two ampulles set with rubies and a white enameled scroll below, bearing the Order’s motto “IN.SANGUINE-FŒDUS” enclosed by a thin, silver frame; smooth, polished reverse, bearing the maker’s cartouche of the jeweler Wm. Gray, 14 New Bond Street, London.
An exceptionally rare star, of the best quality from the years of the wars against Napoleon, excellent condition. I RR!
Provenance: the estate of the Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Martin (1764–1847): descending from a family of naval tradition, grandson of Rear-Admiral Sir William
Rowley, he saw service on board of H.M. ships at the early age of 12, as “Captain’s Servant” on HMS Monarch, at the age of 14, he lived his first sea battle of Ushant, 1778, from then on, participating to several battles, before the French Revolutionary Wars and those against Napoleon. He saw service in the Mediterranean during the Peninsular Wars and to the blockade of Malta, the sea operations of the Egyptian campaign, thus receiving the Turkish Gold Medal in 1802, temporarily leaving the active service after the Peace of Amiens. Called back to service in 1803, he joined the Channel Fleet, then to the Mediterranean, taking many, noteworth commands and signalling himself both in action and for his military and human qualities, flying his flag on board of important ships, until being the Commander in Chief at Ports- mouth in 1824, with his sign on board of HMS Victory. Created Admiral of the Fleet in 1846, he died in Westminster one year later, at the age of 83.
He received the Neapolitan Order of St. Januarius on July 6th, 1811.
note: Very few breast stars are known, made by William Gray of London; one of them is the small-size one of the Hungarian Order of St. Stephen, belonged to the Duke of Cumberland and published in R. Frhr. v. Prochàzka: “Oesterreichisches Ordenshandbuch”, München, 1974, nr. 1078 (plate).