Portugal, Kingdom. A Military Order of Christ with Miniature. visually-hidden featuring an elongated octagonal centrepiece

featuring an elongated octagonal centrepiece with a black enameled background overlaid by a raised German national eagle

since the SS was responsible only to Hitler

circumscribing a date of “1936”

in silvered bronze and textured red enamels

Portugal, Kingdom. A Military Order of Christ with Miniature. visually-hidden featuring an elongated octagonal centrepiece(Ordem dos Cavaleiros de Cristo). Instituted in 1318. In silver gilt and enamels, 67. 6 mm (h) x 43. 2 mm (w), enamel chipping on reverse, very fine. Accompanied by a miniature in silver gilt and enamels, 40. 7 mm (h) x 26 mm (w), extremely fine. Footnote: The Military Order of Christ has a long and convoluted history closely related to Portugal and the Catholic Church. Its origins lie on the dissolution of the Templar Order by Pope Clement V in 1312,