Neck decoration of the order, 95 x 65 mm., the Fleece, cast and finished with excellent chiselwork and engravings, round, black and white enameled “flint”, to which sides are applied red enameled “flames”, convex to the obverse, concave to the reverse, elaborate links to suspend the fleece below and above, night-blue enameled, stylised fire-steel made as a pattern of scroll enclosing a beautifully chiseled, Imperial double eagle with “steel-blue” enameled Orb and Sword’s cross- guard, Imperial crown with engraved details above, with plain, round ribbon ring, original ribbon.
A beautiful, most rare insignia, dating to the 2nd half of 19th Century, in the finest quality of the Viennese jewelers working for the Imperial Court, excellent condition.
Provenance: The Imperial House of Habsburg, transmitted by descent. This piece is thoroughly illustrated and described in Ortner-Ludwigstorff: “Oesterreichs Orden und Ehrenzeichen”, Vienna, Verlag Militaria, 2017, page 136. I RR!