(Pour le Mérite). Instituted June 1740 by Frederick II (“the Great”) of Prussia. (1813-1815 issue). An official and extremely rare example issued by the Orders Chancellery, expertly manufactured in Gold, featuring a blue enamelled Maltese cross set in Gold with an etched detailed frame, the quadrants of each arm joined by finely-detailed hand carved Prussian Imperial Eagles, fine hand etched body lettering with blue enamelling tightly surrounding the lettering which is typical of early 19th Century manufacturing, the 12 o’clock arm with a ring accommodating a suspension ring, measuring 50.93 mm (w) x 50.68 mm (h), weighing 17.3 grams, loss of enamel evident to the obverse centre and left arm, as well as to the reverse centre, however the cross is otherwise intact and remains in fine condition.
Historical Footnote: With economic turmoil resulting from more than a decade of continuous war, recipients of Prussian imperial orders were expected to privately commission decorations at their own expense. The result was a considerable variation in the quality of examples seen from the period of the War of the Sixth Coalition, known in Germany as the “Befreiungskriege” (“Liberation Wars”). The decoration offered is a rare example of a finely-executed, high-quality Pour le Mérite manufactured during the closing stages of the Napoleonic Wars.
Provenance Footnote: Previously sold as Lot 94 in Andreas Theis Auction 48, 2012.
Publication Footnote: Exhibited on page 63 No.1513 of Volume III, of Orden 1700-2000 by Karsten Klingbeil, 2008.
Accompanied by an Authentication and Appraisal document from MEDALNET APPRAISAL SERVICES to eMedals, dated Feb 20.2020, with signatures of Andreas M. Schulze Ising and Bernd Kruse. The Authentication and Appraisal document presents a comprehensive history of the Order, together with a complete set of images of this version.