Prussia, Kingdom. A Pour le Mérite with Crown Decoration, by Rothe, c.1925

(Pour le Mérit mit Krone). Instituted June 1740 by King Friedrich II. (1740-1918 issue; c.1925 manufacture). A rare and exquisite Pour le Mérite, constructed of gilded silver with enamels, consisting of a Maltese Cross with blue enameled arms, with each arm joined through the quadrants by finely-detailed double-sided Prussian imperial eagles, the obverse three, six, and nine o’clock arms bearing a gilt inscription of “POUR LE MÉRITE” with scored lettering, the twelve o’clock arm bearing a gilt monogram of King Friedrich II, topped by a floating royal crown on top of five jewels, with both the crown and monogram presenting with an identical scored finish, the reverse plain, the twelve o’clock arm topped by a pebbled fan suspension with a central reinforced eyelet, fitted with a suspension loop connecting to a detailed crown decoration indicating 50-year possession of the decoration, the suspension loop fitted through with a period original full-length neck ribbon constructed of black rayon, trimmed along both the top and bottom edges with silver aluminum wire tresses, and with each end completing with narrow ribbons in an identical colour scheme for neck suspension, the Pour le Mérite measuring 53.00 mm (w) x 55.13 mm (h), weighing 29.0 grams, the ribbon measuring 54 mm (w) x 825 mm (l) (inclusive of ribbon ties), unmarked but with the classic characteristics of manufacture by the firm of C.F. Rothe & Neffe, Vienna, with the exception of only minor flecking of the enamels it is in an extremely fine condition.