Bidspirit auction | ”Duchess of Cadaval, Royal Order

”Duchess of Cadaval, Royal Order of Ladies of Santa Isabel. Oval medal hanging from the silk band, single-sided, on the front with engravings in accordance with the original design of the Statutes, with a suspension ring, in silver with a corded frame, on the back with the engraving “Cadaval”. Silver, dim. 75x60 mm (oval) and dia. 13 mm (ring); Weight 40.3 g (with label). Wired and sealed label “Cadaval / Mercê da Exm.ª / Marquesa de / Cadaval / 1802” (sic), seal with bust of D. Segismundo Álvares Pereira de Melo (brother of the Duke of Cadaval and Duke of Lafões by marriage). Attributed on July 4, 1804 to the Duchess of Cadaval, D. Maria Henriqueta, as 2nd Lady. It appeared in the exhibition and is illustrated in the catalog D. João VI e a Sua Época (Palácio Nacional da Ajuda, 1998, p. 230). The only known example of the original 1804 insignia, to be placed on a band, according to the design published in the Statutes. Of the highest rarity and historical value.”