Russia, Imperial. An Order of Saint Anne, I Class Cross, by Julius Keibel ca. 1867

(Знак ордена Святой Анны 1-й степени. Крест). Instituted 1735 by Duke Charles Frederick of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp. Incorporated into Russian orders 1797 by Tsar Paul I. (1862-1882 issue). An extremely well-preserved Order of Saint Anne, I Class Cross, constructed of Gold with silver and enamels, consisting of a Cross Pattée with a Gold frame and red enameled arms, with a central medallion bearing a hand-painted image of Saint Anne, the reverse with an analogous white enameled medallion bearing stylized hand-painted Latin initials “A.I.P.F.” for “ANNA IMPERATORIS PETRI FILIA” (“ANNA, EMPEROR PETER’S DAUGHTER”), the quadrants joined by finely-detailed gilded silver lattice designs, the twelve o’clock arm bearing an integral loop and suspension ring, the loop marked with a Gold zolotnik number of “56” for 14 karats, along with a date of “1867” and the symbol of the city of St. Petersburg, with a style and time period indicating manufacture by the firm of Julius Keibel, measuring 49.30 mm (w) x 54.00 mm (h), weighing 20.1 grams, in extremely fine condition.