The Spada collection

The finesse of the execution of this pendant is reason to place it with the work of Bruno “de Messine”. A portrait of Saint Ignatius appears on the reverse. A similar piece, which figures the Holy Family, is kept in the Royal British collections.

A magnificent example of Renaissance jewelry, this pendant illustrates the refinement and originality of the jewels worn by the knights of Saint Michael.

A gift from Louis XVIII to the infant of Portugal, this was one of the first collars made by the goldsmith Coudray during the Restoration, already at work during the Old Regime.

This star of the Legion of Honor, treasure of the jewels of the First Empire, belonged to a member of the imperial family. It can be associated with the insignia made for the Emperor by Nitot, the foremost court jeweler for the occasion of the Emperor’s wedding in 1810.

The Emperor wore these insignia on his coat everyday, completed by the badge of the Legion of Honor and the red ribbon slipped under the waistcoat.

The “rearing horse” is the symbol of the city of Naples. This equivalent of the imperial eagle adorned all flagpoles as of the decree dated February11, 1811, decided by Joachim Murat, King of Naples.

Symbol of imperial power, the eagle was chosen by Napoleon to adorn the flagpoles and the colors of the Grand Army.

The Duke de Berry, second son of Charles X, embodied dynastic continuity by providing a long awaited heir to the throne. This helmet is the symbol of his military career, renowned mainly in the Condé Army during the counter-revolutionary campaigns.

Empire model batons modified under the Restoration and a July Monarchy model, order of the Legion of Honor, order of the Holy Spirit, of Saint Louis and the order of Charles III of Spain. First Empire marshal Moncey rallied over to Louis XVIII but nobly refused to take part in the court martial of marshal Ney: “No, Sire, if I am not allowed to save my country and my own existence, I will at least save honor”. Governor of the Invalides, he received the Emperor’s ashes there in 1840.

This splendid star from the imperial family probably comes from the Emperor’s personal jewel case, taken away during the campaign of 1870. Another diamond Grand Cross that belonged to Napoleon III, crafted in 1855 and part of the Crown jewels was dismounted and destroyed in 1887.

This exceptional collar is one of the rare examples of the classic model worn since the foundation of the order in 1430. The last holder, Joao of Braganza, was made knight in 1785 when he was the infant of Portugal.