Germany, Kingdom of Prussia - Order for Merit, founded in 17 - Lot 483

Germany, Kingdom of Prussia - Order for Merit, founded in 1740, knight's cross with oak leaves of Generalfeldmarschall Count Karl Leonhard von Blumenthal, eight-pointed cross in gold, the royal blue enameled branches charged with chased letters, on the upper branch the crowned figure F of founder Frederick the Great, on the other three the name and motto of the order "Pour le Mérite", plain reverse (small chips restored), anglées of eagles facing each other, quarter-circle striated trigger guard linking the top points, signed W by the silversmith Wagner, surmounted by three embossed gold oak leaves, linked to the cross by a simple ring allowing passage of the black silk ribbon adorned with three silver stripes specific to the oak leaves, fastened by hooks. 53.2x52.9mm, gross weight: 16.7 g Germany, circa last third of the 19th century. Provenance: attributed to Generalfeldmarschall Count Leonhard von Blumenthal (1810-1900), a career officer from the Culm cadet corps in Berlin, he took part in the First Schleswig War as a member of the general staff in 1849. Personal adjutant to Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia in 1858, he took part in the Second Schleswig War against Denmark in 1864, and distinguished himself in the battles of Düppeln and Als, for which he was awarded the "Pour le Mérite" on April 22, 1864. Appointed Major General, he took part in the war against Austria in 1866 as Chief of General Staff in the army of Crown Prince Wilhelm, with whom he was very close. He distinguished himself at Sadowa, and was awarded the oak leaf on September 17, 1866. He took part in the 1870-1871 war in the same position, and played a key role in the siege of Paris. He was present at the proclamation of the German Empire at Versailles. Hereditary Count in 1883, he was appointed Generalfeldmarschall by Emperor Frederick III in 1888. Related work: cross with oak leaves by Colonel Richard Georg von Wedell, illustrated in Stephen Thomas Previtera, Prussian Blue, Winodore Presse, Richmond, 2005, pp. 128-129.