The exhibition develops in two main sections, and it aims at being an overview of prizes that were, and are, awarded for civil, military and religious virtues and merits ( virtute et merito). An extraordinary opportunity to admire, until the 17th of September 2017, a celebration of the ancient tradition linked to the jewels of honors – a tradition that is still alive today, in many forms and representations. The Jewellery Museum of Vicenza, unique in its genre, officially opened, last March 23rd, the temporary exhibition “Dames and Knights. Grand Cross coat-of-arms: gold, silver and enamel, 11,5×6,5 cm. Grand Cross Badge: gold, silver and enamel. The star in the centre presents a medallion with the initial “M.A.” of Mary, and around the inscription “Padroeira do Reino” Mistress of the Kingdom.
The coat-of-arms represents a nine-pointed enamelled white star with, on the side, nine groups of golden rays which in their turn have a small five-pointed enamelled white star. Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa – Grand Cross coat-of-arms and Grand Cross Badge.
