REVIEW: ORDERS, DECORATIONS, MEDALS & MILITARIA: 10 SEPTEMBER

Topping this auction was an exceptional 18th Century Order of the Garter ‘Great George’ pendant collar badge of outstanding style and condition, making it one the finest known surviving examples from this period.

Shown here, the finely modelled free-standing mounted figure shows St George slaying the dragon; St George wears a blue cap with red plume and integral loop for suspension, with blue cuirass and red skirt, flowing red sash, red enamelled sword and blue boots. He is depicted attacking the dragon with a gold lance.

 

Details to the white enamelled horse include gold trappings with a red saddle cloth, gold tail and hooves, while the dragon, speared through the head, is shown with green enamelled scales and spread wings, it’s long barbed tail wound around a rear leg of the horse and returning under the horse’s belly.

Although partially restored, the overall in condition of the piece was exceptionally good and it was of the greatest rarity.

The Royal Collection holds a similarly styled badge almost certainly by the same modeller and probably later used as inspiration for the Great George made for Emperor Alexander II of Russia by Robert Garrard in about 1867.

It sold for a mid-estimate £46,000.

The South Africa 1877-79 medal, with 1 clasp, 1877-8-9, awarded to Private Thomas Lockhart who fought at the Battle of Rorke's Drift, which was the focus of a preview in the last newsletter, sold above estimate at £24,000.