A very early group to a Knight of the Order. Breast Cross, 43x40 mm., GOLD, with slightly, homogeneously convex white enameled cross of St. Maurice, with narrow, concave, chiseled border, flanked by the green enameled cross of St. Lazarus, with fine chiselwork visible under the enamel’s translucence, small loop to the upper arm, to which a short, horizontal suspension ring fitted with link is mounted, with very old, sewn, now faded silk ribbon, together, its Award Patent, 52x47 cm.parchment with gold-illuminated heading, border and the recipient’s name, completely written in neat chancelry calligraphy and given in Turin, on January 26th, 1688, to the Count Giovanni Bellati and bearing the autographed signature “V. Amedeo” (Victor Amadeus II 1666–1732), Duke of Savoy and the signatures of the members of the Order’s Chancellery, the document indicates that the letters were accompanied by the habit and the Cross of the Order, the lower border, cut as a downwardly pointing, stylized palmette or acanthus leaf, with two vertical, cut slits where once was the lace to keep the parchment rolled, and the wax seal to keep it closed until opened by the recipient.
A magnificent and extremely rare, homogeneous group, perhaps one the oldest of its kind, ever appeared on the market, the cross is testimony of the skill of Turin’s jewelers (most of them of French origin) in charge of the Crown’s treasure, creating beautiful pieces which quality can be appreciated in the portraits at the Galleria Sabauda, Turin, or in museums; exceedingly rare and in excellent condition.
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note: Count Giovanni Bellati (1653–1729) of Feltre – then under the rule of the Venetian Republic – a known patron of arts, was member of one of the most influent, noble families of the territory and founder of a magnificent Villa (nicknamed “Le Case”) built on the hills of Feltre, on the remains of an even older residence was located, there, one of the finest libraries of his time on sciences and agriculture was put together, then dispersed at the end of 19th Century. The properties were held by the family’s descendants until the early 2000s, when the decaying villa was then sold, after the remaining, family treasures were safely taken away elsewhere. The hereby offered group was jealously kept by the descendants until recently.
It is not yet known why the Duke of Savoy awarded the Order of St. Maurice and Lazarus to a Venetian Nobleman, but this could find reason to the many relationships the Venetian Republic held with many European Powers, especially in the difficult years when wars were fought also in the northern regions of Italy.