Oldenburg, Grand Duchy. A Rare House and Merit Order of Peter Friedrich Ludwig, Officer's Cross with Swords, by Knauer

(Oldenburger Haus-und Verdienstorden Offizierskreuz mit Schwertern). Instituted 27 November 1838 by Grand Duke Paul Friedrich August. (1903-1918 issue). Constructed of gilded silver with multi-coloured enamels, consisting of a Cross Pattée with crossed swords piercing the centrepiece, the obverse with white enameled arms, overlaid by a central blue enameled medallion bearing a gilt monogram of Grand Duke Peter Friedrich Ludwig, surrounded by a red enameled ring bearing a gilt inscription of “EIN GOTT, EIN RECHT, EINE WAHRHEIT” (“ONE GOD, ONE RIGHTEROUSNESS, ONE TRUTH”), in turn surrounded by dual gilded rings, the reverse with a barrel hinge and narrow pinback meeting a rounded catch, the reverse of the pinback maker marked “B. KNAUER” for the Pforzheim-based court jeweller Bernhard Knauer, measuring 44.79 mm (w) x 44.90 mm (h), weighing 23.7 grams, an exceptionally rare and high-quality example of approximately a dozen of this class awarded, in extremely fine condition.