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Miniature silver and white enamel five-pointed star with ball-tipped finials, with silver laurel wreath between the arms, the suspension a silver condor of the Andes with wings spread; the face with a circular silver central medallion with a female head facing right encircled by the inscription ‘REPUBLICA DE CHILE’; the reverse with a circular silver central medallion with a laurel branch encircled by the inscription ‘AL MERITO’; height 17.71mm (0.7 inch), width of the star 12.96mm (0.51 inch); surface wear and small chips to the enamel; on replaced correct ribbon lacking rosette. The Order was established in 1910 and is the highest Chilean honour. It is unusual in that both it and the Order of Bernardo O’Higgins are reserved solely for award to non-Chileans who have achieved distinction not only in the realms of diplomacy and politics but also the arts, charitable works and other fields. The white enamel denotes an award of the Commander class.
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