EXCEPTIONALLY RARE AND BEAUTIFUL PRUSSIAN ORDER OF THE BLACK EAGLE

EXCEPTIONALLY RARE AND BEAUTIFUL PRUSSIAN ORDER OF THE BLACK EAGLE

02-26996-1

This exquisite chivalric neck chain order is known as the Prussian Order of the Black Eagle and was instituted by Friedrich III of Brandenburg who became Friedrich I, King of Prussia, the next day. The Order has only been issued 407 times since 1701 and is considered one of the world’s most prestigious chivalric orders. The Order was awarded to high ranking members of the House of Hohenzollen, high ranking members of other houses (German or Foreign), and capitular knights. For the Order to be awarded with the neck chain, the King had to personally authorize the issue. Thus, not all awards of the Order included the neck chain even though there was only one class to the Order. Foreign recipients of the Order include King George V, Emperor Meiji, Napoleon, Edward VII, Louis XVIII, William IV, Nicholas II, and many more global leaders that constitute a “who’s who” of world history. The badge itself is a deep blue enameled 3 3/16″ Maltese Cross with crowned black enameled eagles between the arms of the cross. The center features the royal monogram of Fredericus Rex (Friedrich I). The exquisite chain is approximately 45″ long and is made of two distinct type of links. The first is a blue enamel 1 7/16″ ring with large silver and vermeil crowns extending out from the corners. The central core has the words “SUUM CUIQUE” on white enamel surrounded by the letters “F” & “R” in green enamel. The other type of link is a superbly formed silver and vermeil eagle with a fine rich black enamel finish. The entire award is solid silver with ample vermeil and the enamel is of the finest quality and artistry. This may represent the only opportunity for a collector to obtain a Prussian Order of the Black Eagle as nearly all of these awards are in Royal Collections and National Museums. NON-GUN