Russia, Imperial An Order Of St. Anne, Civil Division, 1St Class Breast Star, C.1907

An eight pointed silver star with fine red enamel work, reverse marked with the Russian two-headed eagle coat-of-arms, marked with the " *84" silver standard mark and maker marked "Keibel" (Albert Keibel, St. Petersburg, 1899-1908), measuring 88.5 mm (w) x 87 mm (h), vertical pinback, minor chipping and crazing evident in the red enamels on the centrepiece ring, near extremely fine.

Footnote: The Order of Saint Anne was established as a Holstein ducal and then Russian imperial order of chivalry established by Karl Friedrich, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, on February 14, 1735, in honour of his wife Anna Petrovna, daughter of Peter the Great of Russia. The motto of the Order is "Amantibus Justitiam, Pietatem, Fidem" ("To those who love justice, piety, and fidelity"). Its festival day is February 3 (New Style, February 16). Originally, the Order of Saint Anne was a dynastic order of knighthood; but between 1797 and 1917 it had dual status as a dynastic order and as a state order. The Head of the Imperial House of Russia always is Master of the Imperial Order of Saint Anne. The Order of St. Anne continued to be awarded after the revolution by Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich, Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich, and Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna. Today, the Russian Imperial Order of St. Anne, awarded by Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna is recognized as an order of chivalry by the privately operated ICOC,  as a continuation of the pre-Revolutionary order, and has been approved for wear with military uniforms by the Russian Federation, but not by some members of the Romanov Family Association. Membership of the Order was awarded for a distinguished career in civil service or for valour and distinguished service in the military. The Order of Saint Anne entitled recipients of the first class to hereditary nobility, and recipients of lower classes to personal nobility. For military recipients, it was awarded with swords. It is now usually awarded for meritorious service to the Imperial House of Russia.  [C:41]