Auction Catalogue

25 & 26 March 2014

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

Download Images

Lot

№ 1065

.

26 March 2014

Estimate: £25,000–£35,000

The Most Ancient and Noble Order of the Thistle, a very important late 18th century solid gold sash badge, 122.71g, the finely modelled figure of St Andrew set within an oval border bearing the motto of the Order with Thistle spray finely chased on each side, surmounted by oval gold floreate loop suspension, 84 x 51mm, circa 1770-80, extremely fine and extremely rare £25000-35000

Provenance: Christie’s 18 April 1979, ‘Sold by order of the Executors of the estate of the 12th Earl of Galloway’.

Exhibited: Gold: Power and Allure, The Goldsmiths’ Company, June-July 2012.

When originally sold this badge was ‘presumed’ to have been worn by Admiral Sir George Stewart, K.T., 8th Earl of Galloway (1768-1834) who succeeded his father to the title in 1806, and was elected and invested as a Knight of the Thistle in May 1814. However the 7th Earl, Sir John Stewart, was elected and invested as a Knight of the Thistle in November 1775, and it is from this period that the style and size of the above badge would seem more properly to belong, though, no doubt, also worn later by the 8th Earl.