MILITARY ORDER OF CHRIST

A neck decoration of the order: red enameled yellow GOLD cross, approx. 52g., with ribbon; the centre with white enameled latin Cross; chiselled beams between the arms, made of red gold; strong, rotating suspension loop, with large, round, grooved ribbon ring; original, long neck ribbon with gold à-coulisse GOLD closure; in the original, large, brown morocco fitted case of issue, the lid with gold embossed inscription “REAL ORDEM MILITAR PORTUGUEZA DE nosso SENHOR JESUS CHRISTO JORGE N: CONLAN”.
An important piece of outstanding manufacture and an interesting, curious provenance; extremely fine condition. I RR!
Dim.: 68,5×45,0 mm.
George Nugent Conlan (1838? – 1907) was a skilled officer of the British Merchant Navy, commanding passengers’ steamers and vessels across the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Indian oceans; his name is recorded as commander of the S.S. Cuzco, Liguria and Aconcagua. A portrait of him on the deck of this last ship is preserved at the A. Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand.