Russia, Imperial. An Order of St. Stanislaus, II Class Cross in Gold, c. 1900

(Орден Святого Станислава. 2-й степени). Instituted 8 May 1765 by Stanisław II August of Poland; incorporated into Russian orders 1831 by Tsar Nicholas I. (1831-1917 issue). Constructed of 14K Gold with multi-coloured enamels, consisting of a Maltese Cross with arms completing in ribbed fans and ball finials, joined together through the quadrants by intricate double-headed imperial eagles, the obverse featuring red enamels, bearing a central white enameled medallion overlaid by a hand-painted monogram of St. Stanislaus, situated within a circular green enameled laurel leaf wreath, the reverse bearing an analogous central medallion and monogram, the twelve o’clock arm topped by an eyelet and suspension ring retaining a period ribbon, the eyelet stamped with a zolotnik mark of “56” indicating 14K Gold construction, with a goldsmith mark of “ВА” or “ВД” stamped onto the reverse three o’clock arm, evidence of the erasure of a royal warrant to the opposite arm, and an additional zolotnik mark visible on the suspension ring, measuring 49.28 mm (w) x 53.56 mm (h), weighing 21.1 grams, demonstrating evidence of vigorous cleaning (accounting for the softening and erasure of marks) and some chipping to the enamels of the obverse wreath, with additional signs of possible glue repair to the twelve o’clock arm where it means the right-side eagle, in near extremely fine condition.