Prussia, Kingdom. A Pour le Mérite, with Case, High-Quality Museum Example by Rothe c.1955

(Pour le Mérite, Museumsstück mit Etui). Constructed of gilded silver with enamels, consisting of a Maltese Cross with blue enameled arms, joined together through each quadrant by a detailed Prussian imperial eagle, the obverse three, six, and eight o’clock arms bearing a gilded and ribbed inscription fo “POUR LE MÉRITE”, the twelve o’clock arm bearing a gilded and ribbed monogram of King Friedrich II (“the Great”), the twelve o’clock arm topped by a pebbled fan suspension perforated with an eyelet retaining a gilded suspension ring, the latter retaining a period original full-length neck ribbon constructed of black rayon with machine-embroidered silver aluminum wire tresses trimming both the top and bottom edges, unmarked but demonstrating the physical characteristics of manufacture by Rothe c. 1955, measuring 52.86 mm (w) x 55.09 mm (h), weighing 29.8 grams, accompanied by its original presentation case, constructed of a wooden frame with a faux black leather exterior liner, the interior with a padded white rayon lid line and depressed black felt medal bed, unmarked, measuring 9 cm (w) x 15.5 cm (l) x 2.5 cm (h), with minor material fatigue visible to the case, a collector’s exhibition example of the finest quality, in overall extremely fine condition.