A Grand Cross set of the Order, military division: Sash Badge in gilt Silver with white enameled arms, flanked by green enameled laurel wreath and crossed, Roman “Gladii” (the short swords used by the Ancient Roman army) with typical eagle’s head-and-neck grip and pommel; blue enameled centre medallion bearing gilt Savoy’s eagle with red and white enameled breast, within smooth, polished outer circlet; blue enameled, reverse centre medallion, bearing group of three Imperial fasces, also within smooth, polished outer circlet; cylindrical upper loop and large, round, suspension ring; complete with its original, full-length sash ribbon; Breast Star in Silver with chiseled rays; gilt silver and enameled centre as the badge’s obverse; smooth, concave reverse, with maker’s escutcheon of Gardino-Cravanzola, Rome and vertical pin; in the original, wine-red case of issue with gold embossed royal cipher “VE”, black velvet covered, fitted, inner compartment; the lid’s inner cushion printed with the maker’s name of Cravanzola, Rome.
A beautifully-made, very rare set; excellent condition and a sound provenance.
Dim.: the badge, 50,0 x 50,0 mm.; the star, dia.: 85,0 mm.
Note: the Order of the Roman Eagle was awarded in its two divisions, military and civil, to foreign personalities and dignitaries; the Military Class is rare, especially in its higher classes. After the fall of Fascism, on July 25th, 1943, the Order was discontinued, although still worn by recipients, but it was revived in 1944 by Order of Mussolini as the chief of the newly formed Repubblica Sociale Italiana, in a proper variation with “republican” attributes and seldomly awarded until the early days of April, 1945. I RR!