Prussia, State. An Order Of The Brandenburg Red Eagle, C. 1760

(Orden des Brandenburgischen Roten Adlers). Instituted by Margrave George Friedrich Carl von Brandenburg in July 1734. An extremely rare decoration, in bronze gilt, presenting a wide armed cross in white enamels, with the obverse medallion featuring a superimposed left facing red eagle, the reverse medallion with a superimposed red enamelled CW, the badge is suspended by a red, white, blue and black enamelled crown, measures 34.7mm (w) x 53.4mm (h- inclusive of crown suspension and integral ring), weighs 31.5 grams, wear consistent with age including chips to corners of obverse and reverse arms, cracking and flaking, contact wear on reverse of crown, overall a near very fine decoration of the utmost rarity.

Footnote: The Order of the Brandenburg Red Eagle was established July 13, 1734 by Margrave George Friedrich Carl von Brandenburg. In August of 1759, it was expanded into two classes through the creation of the Grand Cross. The order was limited to 30 knights and 12 grand crosses, and following the conferral, the recipient could no longer accept any other orders. This suggests the order was intended to bind the recipient to Margrave’s immediate environment. The order was unlikely to have been awarded after 1767 and was no longer awarded after the death of Margrave in 1769.

This decoration is published in Karsten Klingbeil’s “Orden 1700-2000” Vol 1., No. 465.