Sardinia, Annunziata Collar and Saints Maurice and Lazarus, Plate LXXI, 1844

This is an original antique wood engraving, colored by hand, showing insignia of the Kingdom of Sardinia. At top left is a gold star of flame-like rays around a lozenge frame tied with love knots, enclosing the Annunciation: the kneeling angel, the Virgin at a prayer desk and the dove above; the letters F, E, R and T sit between the rays. This is the star of the Order of the Annunziata. Below it hangs the gold collar of the same order, its links of knots and open panels, with a pendant showing the Annunciation among knots and small rosettes. At top right is a silver star bearing a white cross with trefoil ends over a green saltire, the emblem of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, repeated below as two gold-edged badges on green watered ribbons, the left one under a royal crown and the right one under a small gold ornament.

The running head reads "SARDAIGNE." (Sardinia) and the plate number "LXXI." Each piece carries a small item number, 1 to 5. The only lettering on the insignia is "F E R T" on the star, the motto of the House of Savoy, printed as four separate capitals around the Annunciation scene.

The plate comes from Ordres de Chevalerie et Marques d'Honneur, published by Auguste Wahlen in Brussels by the Librairie Historique-Artistique, rue de Schaerbeek, 12, in 1844; its half title reads Histoire, costumes, décorations de tous les ordres de chevalerie, et marques d'honneur. Auguste Wahlen was the pen name of the Belgian writer Jean-François-Nicolas Loumyer (1801 to 1875), and the title page lists his own knighthoods in the orders of Prussia, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Hanover, Greece, the Roman States, Saxe-Coburg and Brazil. The plates are relief prints, wood engravings colored by hand with watercolor.

The insignia are set out with generous space on a cream ground, and the plate works well framed on its own or hung with other plates from the same book.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.