Miniature silver-gilt edged white enamel cross pattée with gilt oak wreath between the arms, on laterally-pierced ball and suspension ring with silver hallmarks to the reverse; the face with a circular central green enamel medallion bearing the crowned monogram ‘W’ (for its founder, Grand Duke William II); the reverse identical; diameter 14.15mm (0.55 inch); there are two ‘hairs’ on the upper reverse green enamel under the glaze; on original ribbon with rosette denoting an award of the officer class. The order was established on 29 December 1841 by Grand Duke William II, who was also King of the Netherlands, and was the personal gift of the sovereign. In 1890, Queen Wilhelmina ascended the Dutch throne but, under Salic Law which proscribed female inheritance, Adolph of Nassau, the most senior male heir, became Grand Duke of Luxembourg and the Order purely Luxembourgeois. Since that date, the Order has been primarily awarded to nationals of Luxembourg, though it has occasionally been conferred upon foreigners, mainly on members of other Royal families. The population of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is less than 500,000 and as a consequence, all its decorations are comparatively rare. A good quality miniature of some age.
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