SAINT-DENIS SAINT-DENIS CHAPTER CROSS. Canon's choir cross, second model. Gold and enamel (very slight hair and chips). Obverse with Saint Denis motif on a blue enamel background, edged with the legend "CAPTIULUM IMPERIALE STI DIONYSII 1806". Reverse with three bees (slightly missing) and Holy Cross nail, bordered by the legend "VOTA PRO IMPERATORE - SEPULTURA REGNUM". Height: 7.8 cm - Weight: 62 g With its braided cord in purple and silver silk thread, ending with a tassel in purple and silver silk thread passementerie en suite. Eagle head hallmark. Second Empire period. T.T.B. History : Decree of March 9, 1853 creating a decoration for the canons of the Chapter of Saint-Denis. "Article 1. The cross of the Canons of the First and Second Orders of the Imperial Chapter of Saint-Denis will be the same size as the current cross, with eight gold points, enamelled white and violet, bearing four gold bees in the crossbars and repeated in the azure field of the escutcheon, which will retain, in pale, the nail of the Holy Cross, which the ancient abbey once held. The inscription placed around this escutcheon will read as follows: Capitulum impériale Sancti Dionysii, 1806. The second coat of arms, with the image of Saint Denis, will bear the following two inscriptions: at the top, Vota pro Imperatore, and at the bottom, Sepultura Regum. Art. 2 This cross will be suspended from a light purple moiré ribbon, 95 millimeters wide, with a white stripe around the edges. In undress, this ribbon may be replaced by a purple cord. Art. 3 As a distinctive sign of their status, when in street dress, canons of the second order may wear on their hats a half-twist of purple silk and silver, finished with two similar tassels. Provenance : Former collections of the museum of the Princely Palace of Monaco.Bibliography:B.BERTHOD and J.C. PALTHEY, Fastes canoniaux, costumes chœur et croix pectorales du clergé français, Frémur éditions. PALTHEY, Fastes canoniaux, costumes de chœur et croix pectorales du clergé français, Frémur éditions, 2023, p.218