Gold and enamel, without ribbon. The order's motto and the crowned cipher “F” of the order's founder fired in gold foil. Significant enamel damage, well repaired in period, the eagle in the lower left arm of the cross was restored in period.

The eagles between the arms of the cross in the form of the Russian double-headed eagle, crowned and finely chased.

Very finely crafted example. The execution with crowned double-headed eagles indicates private Russian manufacture. Complete with golden round neck ring and the original worn period neck ribbon. Worn piece with the described wear and age characteristics, condition 2-.

Of the order awards during the Napoleonic Wars under King Friedrich Wilhelm III, a considerable number went to officers of the allied Russian Army.

As can be seen in numerous contemporary portraits, these recipients often had insignia manufactured at private expense, which occasionally deviate significantly from the official form.

Nevertheless, this piece is a typical example from the Wars of Liberation and a significant and highly interesting documentary piece of the Prussian-Russian brotherhood in arms in the fight against Napoleon.
To our knowledge, the only known example with Russian double-headed eagles.

Significant museum-quality piece of the greatest rarity.

This piece is illustrated and described in Karsten Klingbeil/Andreas Thies, Orden 1700-2000, Volume III, pp. 62-63, No. 1515.

2

483805

€ 35.000,00

Prussian Order Pour le Mérite, significant cross of Russian manufacture from the Wars of Liberation, 1813-1815.

The Order Pour le Mérite represents one of the most distinguished Prussian military orders and occupies an outstanding position in the history of European orders and decorations. The present example from the era of the Wars of Liberation (1813-1815) constitutes an extraordinary testament to the Prussian-Russian brotherhood-in-arms in the fight against Napoleon.

The Order Pour le Mérite was instituted on June 6, 1740 by King Frederick II of Prussia (Frederick the Great) as the highest military order of merit. The French motto “Pour le Mérite” (For Merit) reflected the contemporary predominance of the French language at European courts. In its classical form, the order consisted of a gold-mounted, blue-enameled Maltese cross with golden balls at the cross ends. Between the cross arms were crowned Prussian eagles, and at the center was the crowned cipher “F” for Frederick, surrounded by the order's motto.

The piece described here differs through a highly unusual and historically significant feature: the eagles between the cross angles are executed not as Prussian eagles, but as Russian double-headed eagles, crowned and finely chased. This extraordinary design clearly indicates a private Russian manufacture that originated in the context of the Wars of Liberation.

During the Napoleonic Wars under King Frederick William III, the Pour le Mérite was awarded in considerable numbers, with a substantial portion of the decorations going to officers of the allied Russian Army. After the Peace of Tilsit in 1807 and particularly after the beginning of the Russian Campaign in 1812, close military cooperation developed between Prussia and Russia. The Convention of Tauroggen (December 30, 1812) and the Treaty of Kalisch (February 28, 1813) sealed the formal alliance against Napoleon.

In the battles of Großgörschen, Bautzen, Leipzig (Battle of the Nations, October 16-19, 1813) and finally in the campaign of 1814/15 to Paris, Prussian and Russian troops fought side by side. The award of the Pour le Mérite to Russian officers expressed the highest recognition of their military merit and symbolized the brotherhood-in-arms of both nations.

A remarkable practice of this period was that Russian recipients of the order often had their own examples of the order cross manufactured at private expense. These private manufactures, like the present piece, occasionally deviated significantly from the official Prussian form. Contemporary portraits of Russian officers document these variants. The use of the Russian double-headed eagle instead of the Prussian eagle was a particularly striking deviation that expressed the pride and national identity of the Russian recipients, while respectfully wearing the Prussian decoration.

The manufacturing technique of this example demonstrates the highest craftsmanship: the use of gold and enamel, the order's motto and crowned cipher “F” burned into gold foil correspond to traditional manufacture. The fine chasing of the Russian double-headed eagles testifies to the extraordinary skill of Russian goldsmiths familiar with the requirements of order manufacture.

The described enamel damage and the old repair of the eagle in the lower left cross arm are typical signs of wear that identify the piece as a worn order cross. These signs of wear paradoxically increase the historical value, as they prove that the order was actually worn in active service and not merely as a display piece.

After 1815, the Pour le Mérite remained the highest Prussian military order until the end of the monarchy in 1918. The tradition was expanded in 1842 through the institution of the Peace Class for Sciences and Arts. However, the example described here with Russian double-headed eagles represents a unique episode in the history of this order – the time when Prussia and Russia fought together for the liberation of Europe from Napoleonic rule.

As presumably the only known example with Russian double-headed eagles, this order cross represents an extraordinary museum object of the greatest rarity. It embodies not only the military excellence of its wearer, but also the complex diplomatic and military history of the Wars of Liberation as well as the cultural practice of private order manufacture in the early 19th century.