Germany, Imperial. A 1914 Grand Cross of the Iron Cross, Exhibition Example by Steinhauer & Lück, c. 1955

(Großkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes 1914, Museumsstück). Constructed of iron and silver, consisting of a Cross Pattée with a blackened magnetic iron core within a ribbed silver frame, the obverse with a central initial “W”, the six o’clock arm with a reinstitution date of “1914”, the twelve o’clock arm with an royal crown, the reverse with three central oak leaves, the six o’clock arm with an initial institution date of “1813”, the twelve o’clock arm with initials “FW” topped by a royal crown, culminating in an eyelet and suspension ring retaining a period original shortened length of neck ribbon, the reverse of the twelve o’clock arm stamped with a silver content number of “800”, otherwise unmarked but demonstrating the characteristics of manufacture by Steinhauer & Lück, Lüdenscheid, c. 1955, measuring 62.92 mm (w) x 71.24 mm (h), weighing 59.8 grams, a high-quality example produced for collector and museum display by a noted manufacturer of wartime Iron Crosses, in extremely fine condition.