Sale Report: Morton & Eden British, Russian and World Orders, Medals and Decorations, London May 31

[yourseo]

Lot 2

*Order of St Andrew, a large and impressive diamond-set sash badge, probably of European manufacture, in two-colour gold set with rose-cut and single-cut diamonds, ruby eyes and a central gold and blue-enamelled St Andrew’s Cross with an applied figure of the martyred Saint in gold; the reverse entirely decorated with realistic engraved plumage and the hinged crown fitted with gold riband carrier for suspension, 115 x 75.5mm, wt. 128g, some stones missing and others replaced, moderate overall wear, good very fine

Estimate: £20,000-30,000 SOLD FOR £102,000 ($157,080) Purchased by US Dealer on behalf of collector
*Order of St Vladimir, Military Division, a large and impressive ‘bulbous’ badge of high quality, in gold and enamels, without marks beneath enamel and with maker’s mark on reverse of suspension ring unclear but showing 1896-1908 St Petersburg kokoshnik, 63.5mm (including suspension ring) x 58.3mm, thickness 13mm at centre, small chip at the edge of the central medallion on obverse, good very fine and extremely rare; and a modern sash

Estimate: £60,000-80,000 SOLD FOR £72,000 ($110,880) Purchased on behalf of private European collector

Provenance:

Attributed to VICE-ADMIRAL OSKAR VIKTOROVICH STARK, 1846-1928 who, as Commander of the Pacific Fleet at Port Arthur, famously arranged a ball in honour of his wife aboard the Petropavlovsk, when the opening salvoes of gunfire in the RussoJapanese War were at first thought to be part of the entertainment provided:

‘The band was playing loudly, and the most honorary guest, Admiral Alekseyev, the Viceroy, glided along the parquet with the heroine of the day with surprising grace for his rather obese figure. When the dance reached its apogee, and the viceroy stood on his knee to circle the lady, the windowpanes suddenly shook from the thunder of the cannonade. Everyone applauded, surprised by such a timely salute, and the overall excitement increased. The ball continued to the accompaniment of the orchestra and artillery fire.’

A noted explorer and recipient of the Order of St. Vladimir, 2nd Class, Stark was recalled to duty in the Great War, when in his late 60s. Resolutely loyal to the Imperial cause he was based in Vladivostok during the Civil War, becoming involved with the White movement. Eventually forced to arrange an evacuation from Siberia in October, 1922 as the Red Army’s impending victory became apparent, and dogged with misfortune, he was finally forced to lower the Imperial standard in the Pacific in January, 1923. In exile he retired to Finland.

Ex Suomen Numismaattisen Yhdistyksen [Finnish Numismatic Society] Auction, Helsinki, 7 April 1990, lot 155. The badge was examined and authenticated at the Hermitage Museum in 1992, when thought to be a First Class award.

Lot 11

*Order of St Anne, Civil Divison, Second Class neck badge with Crown, by Wilhelm Keibel, St. Petersburg, in gold and enamels, 73mm (including crown) x 43mm, in fitted case of issue, with I.W. Keibel paper label on reverse (this torn at left), front section of crown detached, extremely fine

Estimate: £10,000-15,000 SOLD FOR £66,000 ($69,564) Purchased on behalf of private European collector

Lot 10

*Order of St Anne, Second Class badge, by Emanuel Pannasch, dated 182[-] on ring suspension and marked beneath enamel, in gold and enamels, 41.6mm (including suspension ring) x 36.5mm, good extremely fine, with old neck riband

Estimate: £8,000-12,000 SOLD FOR £38,400 ($59,136) Purchased by private collector

Lot 35

*A Nicholas II Order of St George and Order of St Anne Bravery Sword, with single-piece polished steel blade and bronze-gilt hilt, guard and scabbard mounts, bearing a miniature badge of the Order of St George mounted at the pommel and an inset badge of the Order of St Anne on sideguard, worn overall, fittings loose and with some restoration to the scabbard, generally in fine to very fine condition

Estimate: £4,000-6,000 SOLD FOR £27,600 ($42,504) Purchased on behalf of private European collector

Lot 13

*Order of St Stanislaus, Military Division, Second Class, non-Christian neck badge, by Albert Keibel, St Petersburg, 1896-1908, in gold and enamels, 51mm (including suspension ring) x 47mm, good very fine, with small piece of neck riband

Estimate: £20,000-25,000 SOLD FOR £22,800 ($35,112) Purchased by private collector

Lot 18

*Dress Miniatures: Miniature riband bar, as worn by Duke William of Brunswick (1830- 84), circa 1850, in gold, silver and enamels, with badges of Orders suspended from, and stars of Orders attached to, a gold bar: BRUNSWICK, badge and star of the Order of Henry the Lion; PRUSSIA, badge and star of the Order of the Black Eagle; AUSTRIA, badge and star of the Order of St Stephen; RUSSIA, badge and star of the Order of St Andrew; GREAT BRITAIN, badge and star of the Order of the Garter, width of bar 84mm, with gold retaining pin and keeper, of very high quality manufacture, extremely fine (lot)

Duke William was appointed a Knight of the Garter on 20 June 1831.

Estimate: £20,000-25,000, SOLD FOR £21,600 ($33,264) Purchased by Russian collector

Lot 7

*Order of St Vladimir, Civil Division, Second Class badge, in gold and enamels, by Albert Keibel, St Petersburg, 53.5 x 48mm, some restoration, good very fine

Estimate: £14,000-16,000 SOLD FOR £19,200 ($29,568) Purchased on behalf of private European collector

Lot 9

*Order of St Anne, cloth and bullion Grand Cross breast star, circa 1830-40, in silver and copper wire with embroidered woven centre, 92mm, with leather backing, very fine

Estimate: £3,000-4,000 SOLD FOR £19,200 ($29,568) Purchased by Russian collector

[rbminis]

Hello and welcome to the forum!
I am confused, what is your point, or the purpose of your post?
Ralph.