Prussia, Kingdom. A Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Knight’s Cross with Swords, by Gebrüder Friedländer

(Königlicher Hausorden von Hohenzollern). Instituted 18 January 1851 by King Friedrich Wilhelm IV. (1851-1918 issue, c. 1917). Constructed of silver with multi-coloured enamels, consisting of a Cross Pattée with white enameled arms highlighted with black enameled borders, joined through the quadrants by a green enameled laurel and oak leaf wreath, with crossed swords piercing the centre, the obverse with a central white enameled medallion bearing a hand-painted Hohenzollern imperial eagle, within a ring of blue enamel bearing a gilt inscription of “VOM FELS ZUM MEER” (“FROM THE CLIFFS TO THE SEA”) with laurel branches, the reverse with a central white enameled medallion bearing a gilt monogram of King Friedrich Wilhelm IV, within a ring of blue enamel bearing a gilt institution date of “DEN 18. JANUAR 1851” with laurel and oak leaf branches, topped by a crown suspension with a reverse bar for the accommodation of the period original ribbon, the six o’clock arm bearing a silver content number of “838” and a maker’s mark of “FR” for Gebrüder Friedländer, Berlin, measuring 39.5 mm (w) x 58.6 mm (h), weighing 25.1 grams, with minor contact marks on the enamels evident, in overall extremely fine condition.