Miniature silver-edged white enamel cross pattée with oak wreath between the arms, on laterally-pierced ball suspension; the face with a circular central green enamel medallion bearing the crowned monogram ‘W’ (for its founder, Grand Duke William II); the reverse identical; a few chips and cracks (see images); diameter 13.41mm (0.53 inch); on original ribbon with slight glue residue to the top of the reverse. 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. This is a very early example.
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