Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
January 2020 NYINC Auction 17-18 Jan 2020
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RUSSIA. Imperial Order of Saint Andrew Breast Star, Instituted 1699. EXTREMELY FINE.
69 mm. 39.25 grams. Eight pointed multi-rayed silver star with central medallion of an Imperial Eagle on a gold background surrounded by a blue enameled band lettered FOR FAITH AND LOYALTY in Cyrillic letters, with a demi-wreath of green enameled leaves on the blue band below the eagle. The reverse is plain with a single hinged tunic pin stamped with Imperial Warrant eagle, a script Keibel signature, and the standard domestic kokoshnik hallmark of the 1898 to 1908 period. All of this follows the usual standard, but there is also a maker's medallion inscribed ПОСТАВЩИКЪ / (Imperial Eagle) / П.А. ФОКИНЪ / С. ПЕТЕРБУРГЪ. This translates as SUPPLIER / P.A. FOKIN / S. PETERSBURG. It is not believed that Fokin was ever authorized to produce this Order, but we suspect that at some time he did major repairs to this star and added his medallion to the reverse. While the entire silver plaque appears to be the original Keibel issue with its finely beaded borders to all the rays, the lettering, eagle, wreath - and perhaps the blue enamel - are of a much lower quality than is typical for this issue, so it is speculated that as a jeweler Fokin did what he could to return the order to its original appearance. While at first glance the order seems to be the standard issue, the legends and wreath are somewhat crudely cut, and are affixed to the surface of the blue enamel, not embedded in it. An intriguing example of this important Imperial Russian Order, and certainly worthy of consideration. To view more military decorations in the Internet Only portion of this auction, click here.
Estimate: $5000.00- $7500.00
69 mm. 39.25 grams. Eight pointed multi-rayed silver star with central medallion of an Imperial Eagle on a gold background surrounded by a blue enameled band lettered FOR FAITH AND LOYALTY in Cyrillic letters, with a demi-wreath of green enameled leaves on the blue band below the eagle. The reverse is plain with a single hinged tunic pin stamped with Imperial Warrant eagle, a script Keibel signature, and the standard domestic kokoshnik hallmark of the 1898 to 1908 period. All of this follows the usual standard, but there is also a maker's medallion inscribed ПОСТАВЩИКЪ / (Imperial Eagle) / П.А. ФОКИНЪ / С. ПЕТЕРБУРГЪ. This translates as SUPPLIER / P.A. FOKIN / S. PETERSBURG. It is not believed that Fokin was ever authorized to produce this Order, but we suspect that at some time he did major repairs to this star and added his medallion to the reverse. While the entire silver plaque appears to be the original Keibel issue with its finely beaded borders to all the rays, the lettering, eagle, wreath - and perhaps the blue enamel - are of a much lower quality than is typical for this issue, so it is speculated that as a jeweler Fokin did what he could to return the order to its original appearance. While at first glance the order seems to be the standard issue, the legends and wreath are somewhat crudely cut, and are affixed to the surface of the blue enamel, not embedded in it. An intriguing example of this important Imperial Russian Order, and certainly worthy of consideration. To view more military decorations in the Internet Only portion of this auction, click here.
Estimate: $5000.00- $7500.00