Austria, Empire. An Imperial Order of the Iron Crown with War Decoration, Large Miniature, c.1917

(Orden der Eiseren Krone). Instituted in 1816. Multi-piece construction, in silver gilt with red, white, blue and green enamels, measuring 18 mm (w) x 19.5 mm (h), chipping evident in the blue enamels on the "1815" shield on the reverse, the enamels on the obverse shield, along with the jewels and the wreathing intact, scattered gilt wear, the suspension ring having separated from the award however the original ribbon accompanies it, near very fine. 

 
Footnote: The Imperial Order of the Iron Crown was one of the highest orders of merit in the Austrian Empire and Austria-Hungary until 1918. It was founded in 1815 by Emperor Franz I of Austria as a re-establishment of the original Order of the Iron Crown, which previously had been an order of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy. The order had three classes and, until 1884, all classes conferred automatic hereditary ennoblement. The Third Class (Knight) conferred the rank of Ritter, the Second Class (Commander) conferred the rank of Baron, and the First Class (Grand Cross) conferred the title of Privy Councillor, the style of Excellency and the right to attend court. According to the order's statutes, only a limited number of members throughout the empire were allowed at any given time. The maximum number of First Class knights was 20, for the Second Class it was 30 and for the Third Class it was 50, limiting the total number of members to 100 at any given time.