29 Kingdom of Prussia: Iron Cross 1st Class, 1813.

Silver embroidery and flanged silver wire with black velvet inlay. The points of the cross with eight carefully sewn eyelets for sewing onto the uniform. Reverse with cover paper.

Original embroidered version of the highly prestigious Ist Class Iron Cross from 1813 of exceptionally great rarity.

These embroidered specimens may have briefly replaced the unpopular and less decorative original 1st class ribbon crosses in 1813.

It is also conceivable that analogous to the embroidered stars of the Order of the Black Eagle and the Order of the Red Eagle the silver embroiderers privileged by the General Order Commission produced these tinsel iron crosses and issued them in very small quantities. Since early production of the metal Iron Crosses 1st Class was connected with great initial difficulties and quite a number of recipients did not receive their decorations immediately thus privately made badges in various materials and styles were produced.

I know of less than ten original examples of fully embroidered Iron Cross 1st Class badges from 1813 preserved in private or museum collections today.

Decoration of great rarity. 

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