Beschreibung:

THE ORDERS AND MEDALS AWARDED TO GEORGE NOBLE COUNT PLUNKETT. Four: The Order of the Holy Sepulchre, Knight Commander's neck badge in silver-gilt and red enamel, a cross potent with smaller plain crosses in the four angles, with trophy of arms suspension, 4'' (10cm) high overall, including suspension, reverse of the trophy of arms engraved ''George Noble Plunkett, Count of the Holy See'', late 19th century, of German manufacture (reverse of suspension ring stamped ''Silber''), with a black watered silk collar for wearing: The Order of the Advocates of St Peter, members breast badge in silver-gilt and enamel, a gilt eight-pointed Maltese cross with the ends of the arms couped fitchee, a burst of rays between each arm, superimposed on this, a white enamel cross, pattee, fitchee at all points, gilt medallion at centre bearing bust of the apostle St Peter in low relief, surrounded by a gilt rimmed blue enamel band bearing the title ''Avvocati di San Pietro'' (Advocates of St Peter), central badge on reverse with in relief the Papal tiara and crossed keys motif, this encircled by the words ''Fidei et Virtuti'' (Faithful and Virtuous), a gilt rimmed band around bearing the legend ''Tu Es Christus Fili Dei Vivi'' (You Are Christ The Living Son of God), with Papal tiara and crossed keys of St Peter gilt suspender, 2.75'' (7.3cm) high including suspension (unnamed, as issued): Ireland, The Service Medal 1917-21, without clasp (unnamed, as issued): The Charles Stewart Parnell Memorial Medal, silver, portrait of Parnell facing left in high relief at centre of obverse, legend ''Ireland's Army of Independence 1891'' around, the whole within a wreath of shamrocks and ivy, reverse with 6 line legend ''Let my love be conveyed to my colleagues and the Irish people'', with its ''Ireland A Nation'' top suspension brooch and original, though now somewhat frayed, green silk ribbon. The medals accompanied by a photograph of Count Plunkett wearing his Papal orders, probably taken circa 1910 on the occasion of a Dublin Castle function, and housed in a custom made display tray. Undoubtedly a unique combination of orders and medals to a participant in the 1916 Rising and War of Independence. George Noble Count Plunkett in the Papal Nobility (1851-1948), scholar and revolutionary Irish Republican, was born on 3 December 1851, at 1 Aungier Street, Dublin, the youngest and only survivor into adulthood of the three children of Patrick Joseph Plunkett (1817-1918), and his first wife Elizabeth Noble. The family was Roman Catholic and nationalist. As a result, the torch that Count Plunkett carried throughout his life was passed to him at an early date. The Plunkett house was a well-known drop-in centre for nationalists, and shortly after Plunkett's birth two strangers called at the house and asked to see the newborn child. Each held Plunkett in turn and then announced to his parents ''Now tell him when he grows up that the Big Drummer and the Little Drummer of Vinegar Hill held him when he was a baby''. Plunkett's father grew rich expanding the wealthy Dublin suburb of Rathmines and was able to provide him with an excellent education, which culminated in 12 years of travel on the continent and study at Trinity College, Dublin. A generous allowance let him amass knowledge on Renaissance and medieval art, while postponing taking his law finals until 1884. Extremely charitable, he financed a gold medal for Irish speakers at his university in 1877, and in 1883 donated funds and property to the nursing order the Little Company of Mary (Blue Sisters). For this, on 4 April 1884, Pope Leo XIII made him a hereditary count (Knight Commander of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre). On 25 June of the same year Plunkett married Josephine Cranny (1858-1944). The newlyweds embarked on a honeymoon that lasted for two years, travelling initially via England and France to Rome, and then from Italy to the Americas, where they journeyed extensively in the U.S.A. and Brazil. The C