FRANCE. CHAPTER DES CHANOINESSES DE NEUFBOURG. 18K (750°/°°) - Lot 122

FRANCE. CHAPTER DES CHANOINESSES DE NEUFBOURG. 18K (750°/°°) gold town cross, made in several parts, obverse with polychrome enameled St. Louis in royal mantle encircled by the legend "CAP. INST. EX MUNIF. A. REG. LUD. XVI 1787", the reverse with the monogram of Queen Marie-Antoinette and captioned "PROT. M. ANT. ARCH. AUSTR. FR. REGINA", the bifid points partially enameled white and beveled with fleur-de-lys, all under a lanceolate comtal crown, fluted setting, rosette ribbon. Late 18th century. Height: 33 mm. Length: 25 mm. Total gross weight: 10.5 g. (General wear, ribbon mounted upside down and unstained). Attached is a blackened wood frame inlaid with bone, sold as is, in which the medal was kept, accompanied by a handwritten bill signed by the Marquis d'Ormenans and reading: "La croix de chanoinesse de ma bonne tante Joséphine ... de Boitouset d'Ormenans, chapitre de Neufbourg en Normandie, sœur de mon père, décédée à Besançon le 29 avril 1844" (The canoness cross of my good aunt Joséphine ... de Boitouset d'Ormenans, chapter of Neufbourg in Normandy, sister of my father, died in Besançon on April 29, 1844). History: this cross is identical to the one worn by the canonesses of Jourcey. We would like to thank Mr. Jean-Christophe Palthey for his help in writing this note.