French Order of Agricultural Merit, knight
(Ordre de Mérite Agricole, chevalier)
Six-pointed silver-gilt and white enamel star with a wreath of wheat and maize between the arms, with loop for ribbon suspension; the face with a central circular gilt medallion bearing a laurel-crowned female head facing right, representative of the French Republic encircled by a blue enamel ring bearing the inscription in gilt letters ‘REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE’, stylised lilies below; the reverse with a central circular gilt medallion bearing the inscription ‘MERITE AGRICOLE 1883’ encircled by a blue enamel ring; on original ribbon.
The Order was created on 7 July 1883 to reward exception service to agriculture and its development. It is notable that this Order was one of just four specialised orders (along with the Academic Palms, Order of Maritime Merit and Order of Arts and Letters) that were not replaced by the National Order of Merit in 1963, testifying both to its long history and to the unique place of agriculture in the history, economy and culture of France. A very fine example.
