Russia, Imperial. An Order of St. Anne in Gold, III Class, c.1900

(Орден Святой Анны). Instituted on February 14th, 1735. A delicately hand manufactured example of this order, constructed of 14 kt Gold, consisting of a red enamelled cross with ornamented Gold patterns with swords in the quadrants between the arms of the cross, the obverse with a white enamelled centerpiece bearing the hand-painted figure of St. Anna, the reverse with a similar white enamelled medallion, bearing the hand-painted initials “A.I.P.F.” for the Latin “Anna Imperatoris Petri Filia” (Anna, Emperor Peter’s Daughter), suspended from a raised integral ring and double-looped oval suspension ring for suspension from its period-original medium-length neck ribbon, marked “56” for 14kt Gold purity, measuring 35.09 mm (w) x 38.75 mm (h), weighs 8.33 grams  (excluding ribbon), worn on a replacement ribbon, enamel cracks in medallions, in very fine condition.