Orde van het Legioen van Eer 1870

This is a badge of the Order of the Legion of Honour, a symbol deeply rooted in the socio-political landscape of France. While the artist remains anonymous, the object speaks volumes about power, prestige, and national identity. Established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the Legion of Honour was created in the wake of the French Revolution, which had sought to dismantle aristocratic privilege. Yet here it is—a new order, a new elite, forged in the fires of revolutionary fervor. This medal, with its red ribbon and intricately designed cross, embodies the complex relationship between meritocracy and social hierarchy. The Legion of Honour reflects the ideals of a nation grappling with its identity, caught between the promise of equality and the allure of distinction. What does it mean to be honored by a nation? What obligations does such recognition entail? These are the questions that this small but potent object provokes.