the French government seized and sold the artist's paintings for a minor amount
one of the wreaths with an s-shaped hook on the reverse
the spine with four magnetic metal eyelets through which is looped a braided cord
the obverse with a green glass cross patee
measuring 210 mm (w) x 168 mm (h)
France, Colonial. An Order of the Black Star, Grand Cross Set, by Bertrand Province of China the French government seized andInstituted May 10, 1896 by the King of Porto Novo. A Grand Cross Badge in silver gilt and enamels, presenting a white and blue enamelled Maltese Cross, with a five point black enamel star in the center, reverse mirrors the obverse, surmounted by a green enamelled wreath, marked on integral suspension with boars head denoting French manufacture and silver fineness, measures 55. 1mm (w) x 84. 2 mm (h), enamels intact, light wear and contact marks,